Strict finitism and the happy sorites (Q427227): Difference between revisions

A sorites argument is happy just in case it has true premisses and a false conclusion. Philosophical treatments of sorites generally begin with examples of what appear to be happy sorites, but end by ruling them out. Strict finitism is the version of constructivism which requires that effecting a construction or surveying a proof be in practice within our capacity. (An intuitionist requires merely that it be in principle within our capacity, which may require inspecting more steps than would in fact be practical.) It appears to offer an opening for happy sorites. Nevertheless, careful thought is needed to assess whether strict finitism is committed to the existence of any happy sorites arguments, and under what conditions.