There may not be a difference philosophicallybut there is a difference in everyday language.
If I ask a greengrocer for a bunch of grapes and he hands me a single grape, arguments about philosophy are not going to make me buy it.
[edit] On reflection, i think what you have identified is simply vague language, rather than any philosophical idea. A 'pile' of sand is a relative term which may mean something different to everyone, whereas 'ten tons of sand' is a specific value that there can be no doubt about.
(If I ask a greengrocer for a bunch of grapes and he hands me a single grape, arguments about philosophy are not going to make me buy it.
[edit] On reflection, i think what you have identified is simply vague language, rather than any philosophical idea. A 'pile' of sand is a relative term which may mean something different to everyone, whereas 'ten tons of sand' is a specific value that there can be no doubt about.
Mystery_Bob,
Sun 31 Aug 2008, 12:32,
archived)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradox_of_the_heap
The Alchemist king of the needlessly complicated,
Sun 31 Aug 2008, 12:39,
archived)