MoL-2008-02: Gradability without Degrees

MoL-2008-02: Gaio, Silvia (2008) Gradability without Degrees. [Report]

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Abstract

The aim of my research was to develop a semantic model to account for
a kind of vague predicates: relative gradable adjectives. In the first
chapter I present the problem of vagueness in natural language and the
paradox that characterizes it: the Sorites paradox. In the second
chapter I consider the most well-known philosophical approaches to the
Sorites paradox: semanticist, epistemicist, realist and
contextualist. In the third chapter I characterize a specific kind of
vague expressions: relative gradable adjectives such as tall, short,
cheap, expensive, etc. I sketch the theories that account for them,
especially the degree theories, and raise some objections against
them. In the fourth chapter I present a model that aims to account for
relative gradable adjectives without committing to degrees. The model
is built on two ideas: contextual-sensitivity and granularity. It
accounts both for the positive and the comparative form of relative
adjectives. It turns out that the comparative relation gives rise to a
weak order, but giving some assumptions up semiorders can be
generated. In the final chapter I prove some results and make some
philosophical remarks.

Item Type:	Report
Report Nr:	MoL-2008-02
Series Name:	Master of Logic Thesis (MoL) Series
Year:	2008
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Vagueness, Contextualism, Gradable Adjectives, Weak Orders, Semiorders.
Date Deposited:	12 Oct 2016 14:38
Last Modified:	12 Oct 2016 14:38
URI:	https://eprints.illc.uva.nl/id/eprint/797

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