Single Idea 5940

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

Full Idea

It may be that two orders or classes of good things are not commensurable, though they are comparable, with those in the other.

Clarification

'Commensurable' means able to compare by measurement

Gist of Idea

Two goods may be comparable, although they are not commensurable

Source

W. David Ross (The Right and the Good [1930], §VI)

Book Reference

Ross,W.David: 'The Right and the Good' [OUP 1930], p.154


A Reaction

This refers to moral issues, but seems helpful when faced with Kuhn's claim that Newton and Einstein are 'incommensurable'. We could hardly prefer one theory to another if we couldn't compare them.