Vagueness in Philosophy -- "Unbestimmtheit" in Physics

Abstract

Unbestimmtheit is discussed with three connotations: indefiniteness-vagueness, uncertainty and indeterminacy. Vagueness is a term in philosophy, the two other meanings are found in physics. I will study several physics cases: experimental errors, natural borderline cases, quantum indeterminacy, uncertainty and indeterminacy in statistical and stochastic physics. Characteristically, the three classes are often found to be mixed. A very sketchy discussion concludes the article: How should one handle Unbestimmtheit? When and how should one clarify, classify, define limits, use fuzzy logic?