Is Terry Schiavo alive or dead Parents claim that she is in a minimally conscious state therefore she is alive Husband claims that she is in a passivevegetative state therefore she is not alive ID: 436840
Download Presentation The PPT/PDF document "Vagueness and bivalence" is the property of its rightful owner. Permission is granted to download and print the materials on this web site for personal, non-commercial use only, and to display it on your personal computer provided you do not modify the materials and that you retain all copyright notices contained in the materials. By downloading content from our website, you accept the terms of this agreement.
Slide1
Vagueness and bivalenceSlide2
Is Terry Schiavo alive or dead?
Parents claim that she is in a minimally conscious state, therefore she is alive.
Husband claims that she is in a passive-vegetative state, therefore she is not alive. Slide3
Vague spectrum
true
falseSlide4
Paradox of the heap
Take a heap of rice
Then take away grains of rice one piece at a time.
When will the heap cease to exist as a heapSlide5
The forms of the arguments
p
1
⊃
p
2
p
2
⊃
p
3
.......
p
n-1
⊃
p
n
∴ p
1
⊃
p
nSlide6
What are the alternatives
Deny that the problem is legitimately set up. That is, hold that logic does not apply to
vague expressions.
Accept that logic does legitimately apply here but hold that this particular argument is
invalid.
Accept both that logic applies in such cases and that the argument is valid, but deny one
of the premises.
Accept the argument and the premises, and hence embrace the conclusion also.Slide7
Other problems with bivalence
Paradox
"This sentence is not true."
Non-denoting terms
"The present king of France is bald."
Presupposition failure
"Since when have you stopped beating your wife?”
Future contingents"There will be a sea battle tomorrow."