Vagueness: A Global Approach by Kit Fine

Reviewed by: Vagueness: A Global Approach by Kit Fine Chad Carmichael FINE, Kit. Approach. New York: Oxford University Press, 2020. xx + 100 pp. Cloth, $31.95 In this book, argues that vagueness is a matter of global rather than local indeterminacy. His guiding analogy involves uneven stepping stones: The stones are collectively uneven, even though no particular stone correctly deemed to be uneven. Similarly, thinks, phenomenon afflicting whole sorites series, while individual element the series can said (in an independent sense) indeterminate. develops his account in some detail, showing how meant improve on familiar approaches. book just pages, containing three chapters and two technical appendices. first chapter presents what takes main problems about explains why he unsatisfied with popular approaches: degree-theoretic approach, Fine's previous supervaluationist epistemic approach. second details positive "global" approach highlights various points favor over others. third shows new applies paradox, Williamson's "anti-luminosity" argument Parfit's personal identity. I will briefly comment one version (not only considers). standard presentation we have items, where item clearly F, last not any adjacent members nearly indistinguishable way seems support "tolerance" principle: If given then so next series. Given principle, classically led contradiction. solution deny tolerance principle. He agrees principle true. But thinks it true because infer from "Cut-Off" claim—which endorses—that there sharp cutoff between cases series: such F its neighbor F. provides (nonclassical) semantics which sort false, our attempt invalid. Why prone draw invalid inference? suggests subject illusion there's intermediate state being non-F: broader concept not-being-true, as opposed case, illusion—we form conception object having [End Page 594] alternative status beyond F; fall prey inclined think Tolerance simply following appropriately generalized Cut-Off. does seem us "alternative status"? You might it's examples things, shade red orange neither nor false red, or spot penumbra outback part outback. has different idea: says "transcendental … something like Kantian sense": It arises thinking attain external "transcendent" perspective practice had. Thus ordinary use vague predicates forming judgments whether someone bald whether, sense "true" "false," person bald. supposed, when difficulties sort, somehow transcend our...