Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.26362/20190101

Constitution, Vague Objects, and Persistence

Radim Bělohrad ; Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University, Arna Nováka 1, 602 00, Brno, Czech Republic

Abstract

In this paper, I assess the analysis of vagueness of objects in terms of the
theory of constitution with respect to the notion of vague identity. Some proponents of the constitution theory see it as an advantage of their account that analysing the spatial and temporal vagueness of objects in terms of the relation of vague constitution avoids commitment to vague identity, which is seen as a controversial notion. I argue that even though the constitution theory may plausibly be applied to the phenomenon of vague boundaries, it fails to account fully for other cases of spatial and temporal vagueness. There are what I call ‘mid-extension’ vagueness cases, in which the tools of the constitution theory applied in the analysis of boundary vagueness are insufficient to avoid commitment to vague identity.

Keywords

Constitution; persistence; vague objects; vague identity.

Hrčak ID:

225874

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/225874

Publication date:

28.6.2019.

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