This paper shows that authors who have recently argued that higher-order vagueness is incoherent, paradoxical, illusory or non-existent invariably confound elements of higher-order vagueness (of the kind relevant to the Sorites paradox) with elements of a different paradigm of borderline borderline cases; and that, once the elements of that other paradigm are removed from the description of hig...

In this paper we are seeking general definitions of vagueness. They have much to do with dialectical reasoning since we are interested in vagueness caused by differing opinions, or points of view, about the definition of concepts. After giving three definitions for vagueness we sketch ways of choosing meaning for vague concepts, using “direct democracy”. In this context we also define open text...

This chapter explores the phenomenon of vagueness as it relates to spatial information. It will be seen that many semantic subtleties and representational difficulties arise when spatial information is affected by vagueness. Moreover, since vagueness is particularly pervasive in spatial terminology, these problems have a significant bearing on the development of computational systems to provide...