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Single Idea 22185

[filed under theme 14. Science / B. Scientific Theories / 5. Commensurability ]

Full Idea

If two things are incommensurable they cannot be incompatible.

Gist of Idea

Two things can't be incompatible if they are incommensurable

Source

Samir Okasha (Philosophy of Science: Very Short Intro (2nd ed) [2016], 5)

Book Ref

Okasha,Samir: 'Philosophy of Science: very short intro (2nd ed)' [OUP 2016], p.80


A Reaction

Kuhn had claimed that two rival theories are incompatible, which forces the paradigm shift. He can't stop the slide off into total relativism. The point is there cannot be a conflict if there cannot even be a comparison.


The 10 ideas from 'Philosophy of Science: Very Short Intro (2nd ed)'

Not all sciences are experimental; astronomy relies on careful observation [Okasha]
The discoverers of Neptune didn't change their theory because of an anomaly [Okasha]
Science mostly aims at confirming theories, rather than falsifying them [Okasha]
Randomised Control Trials have a treatment and a control group, chosen at random [Okasha]
Induction is inferences from examined to unexamined instances of a given kind [Okasha]
If the rules only concern changes of belief, and not the starting point, absurd views can look ratiional [Okasha]
Galileo refuted the Aristotelian theory that heavier objects fall faster [Okasha]
Multiple realisability is said to make reduction impossible [Okasha]
Theories with unobservables are underdetermined by the evidence [Okasha]
Two things can't be incompatible if they are incommensurable [Okasha]