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A grey area is a term for a border in-between two or more things that is unclearly defined, a border that is
hard to define or even impossible to define, or a definition where the distinction border tends to move. There are several
flavors of grey areas:
- A grey area of definitions signifies a problem of sorting
reality into clearly cut categories. Example: where is the border between erotica
and pornography?
- A grey area of
law is an area where no clear law or precedent exists, or where the law has not been applied in a long time thus making it unclear if it is applicable
at all.
- A grey area of ethics signifies an ethical dilemma, where the
border between right and wrong is blurred. Example: is killing always abominable?
Grey areas are widely accepted in democratic societies and have a clear connection to the notion of tolerance, whereas in societies of totalitarianism, grey areas are typically not accepted on any level.
Many people accept grey areas as a natural part of the human experience, whereas others may react with suspicion and a feeling
of defectness or uncompleteness of any thought-system (or paradigm) accepting grey
areas.
See also: Gray Areas (magazine)
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