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Vagueness

Vagueness differs from ambiguity. While ambiguous expressions have multiple distinct meanings, vague expressions have fuzzy boundaries or gray areas where their applicability is unclear.

Characteristics of Vague Expressions​

  1. Borderline Cases: There are cases where it's unclear whether the expression applies or not.

  2. Sorites Susceptibility: Vague expressions are prone to sorites paradoxes (heap paradoxes), where small, seemingly insignificant changes can lead to problematic conclusions.

  3. Context Dependence: The applicability of vague expressions can depend on context.

Examples of Vague Expressions​

  • Size Adjectives: "tall", "short", "high", "low"

    • At what height is someone considered "tall"? 1.80 m? 1.85 m? 1.90 m?

  • Color Adjectives: "red", "blue", "green"

    • Where exactly is the boundary between "red" and "orange"?

  • Evaluative Terms: "good", "bad", "successful", "intelligent"

    • What exactly makes a person "intelligent"?

  • Frequency Adverbs: "often", "rarely", "sometimes", "usually"

    • How often is "often"? Once a week? Daily?

  • Quantity Expressions: "many", "few", "some", "most"

    • How many are "many"?

Problems Caused by Vagueness​

  1. Unclear Communication: Vague expressions can lead to misunderstandings since different people may have different interpretations.

  2. Sorites Paradoxes: These arise when one argues that small changes have no effect, but many small changes together lead to a significantly different outcome.

    Example: "A person with 0 hairs is bald. A person with 1 hair is still bald. If a person with n hairs is bald, then a person with n+1 hairs is also bald. Therefore, all people are bald, regardless of how many hairs they have."

  3. Manipulation Opportunities: Vague expressions can be used to avoid responsibility or to formulate statements in a way that makes them difficult to refute.

    Example: "We will take measures in the near future to improve the situation."

Strategies for Dealing with Vagueness​

  1. Precision: Replace vague expressions with more precise formulations.

    • Instead of "tall": "1.85 m tall"
    • Instead of "soon": "within the next two weeks"
    • Instead of "many": "more than 50%"

  2. Context Specification: Clarify the relevant context in which a vague expression is used.

    • "Tall for a woman in Germany"
    • "Expensive for a mid-range car"

  3. Operationalization: Define measurable criteria for vague terms.

    • "Intelligent" could be operationalized as "achieves an IQ score above 120"
    • "Successful" could be defined as "achieves self-set goals"

  4. Awareness of Sorites Problems: Recognize that small, incremental changes can lead to qualitatively different categories, and avoid arguments based on the assumption that small differences are never relevant.