The experimental approach to vagueness
This thesis is about philosophical theorising about vagueness, and the possibility of contributions from experimental work. I defend the view that empirical studies can inform theorising, given that the philosophical project is an essentially descriptive one, and I aim to provide a better theoretical framework to interpret empirical results than hitherto seen in the literature. In the first half of the thesis (chapters 1-3), I introduce vagueness and make a case for the experimental approach to it, but argue that some recent studies are unsatisfactory in their methods. Following a general introduction to the phenomena of vagueness and some theories of vagueness (chapter 1), I argue that empirical work can inform theorising about vagueness, at least in theory (chapter 2). I argue that if theories of vagueness are descriptive, i.e. aim to model features of real-life language use, then there is a role for experimental work, and then argue that the debate shows that philosophers are engaged in a descriptive project. I then argue that even though experiments can be a useful philosophical tool in theory, recent studies havenât provided significant results, and the authors of studies have failed to establish their
Matthews, Joshua James
The experimental approach to vagueness. This thesis is about philosophical theorising about vagueness, and the possibility of contributions from experimental work. I defend the view that empirical studies can inform theorising, given that the philosophical project is an essentially descriptive one, and I aim to provide a better theoretical framework to interpret empirical results than hitherto seen in the literature. In the first half of the thesis (chapters 1-3), I introduce vagueness and make a case for the experimental approach to it, but argue that some recent studies are unsatisfactory in their methods. Following a general introduction to the phenomena of vagueness and some theories of vagueness (chapter 1), I argue that empirical work can inform theorising about vagueness, at least in theory (chapter 2). I argue that if theories of vagueness are descriptive, i.e. aim to model features of real-life language use, then there is a role for experimental work, and then argue that the debate shows that philosophers are engaged in a descriptive project. I then argue that even though experiments can be a useful philosophical tool in theory, recent studies havenât provided significant results, and the authors of studies have failed to establish their
experimental vagueness philosophical theorising vagueness possibility contribution experimental_work defend_view empirical_study inform theorising give philosophical_project essentially descriptive aim_provide good theoretical_framework interpret empirical hitherto see literature introduce vagueness make_case experimental argue recent_study unsatisfactory method following_general introduction phenomenon vagueness theory vagueness argue empirical work inform theorise vagueness least theory argue theory vagueness descriptive aim model feature real_life language_use role experimental_work argue debate show philosopher engage descriptive project argue even_though useful philosophical tool theory recent_study provide_significant author study fail establish