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Can we settle this: how many holes does a straw have?
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this post was submitted on 04 Jul 2023
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Yes, I agree. "Hole" is poorly defined. This isn't a technical question about straws but a technical question about language.
That's the gist of practically all philosophical thought experiments.
When is a heap of sand no longer a heap? I dunno, define "heap" and there's your answer. It's not going to be a useful answer though because the rest of the world doesn't define the word with enough precision for the question to be meaningful in the first place. There is no authority on Earth that can do that. You can define the problem in precise mathematical terms but then it will NOT be the same thing as a plain-English "heap" and you'd be pulling a fast one if you acted like it was.
Sorites Paradox!