Nicholas J. J. Smith argues that an adequate account of vagueness must involve degrees of truth. The basic idea of degrees of truth is that while some sentences are true and some are false, others possess intermediate truth values: they are truer than the false sentences, but not as true as the true ones. This idea is immediately appealing in the context of vagueness--yet it has fallen on hard times in the philosophical literature, with existing degree-theoretic treatments of vagueness facing apparently insuperable objections. Smith seeks to turn the tide in favour of a degree-theoretic treatment of vagueness, by motivating and defending the basic idea that truth can come in degrees. He argues that no theory of vagueness that does not countenance degrees of truth can be correct, and develops a new degree-theoretic treatment of vagueness--fuzzy plurivaluationism--that solves the problems plaguing earlier degree theories.

About the Author
Nicholas Smith is a Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Sydney.

Reviews
'a must read for anyone engaged or just seriously interested in the debate on reasoning in face of vagueness.' * Australasian Journal of Logic *
'an excellent book: clearly written and packed full of interesting ideas and arguments.' * Mind *
'clear, focussed, technically deft, and has impressive vision' * History and Philosophy of Logic *



Book Information
ISBN 9780199674466
Author Nicholas J. J. Smith
Format Paperback
Page Count 350
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 502g
Dimensions(mm) 235mm * 157mm * 19mm