Incommensurability

Definition

Incommensurability refers to the idea that certain theories or frameworks are so fundamentally different from one another that they cannot be directly compared or measured using a common standard. This concept highlights the challenges in evaluating competing scientific theories, especially during periods of significant scientific change where paradigms shift and old frameworks lose relevance.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Incommensurability suggests that competing theories may use different terms and concepts that lack direct equivalence, complicating comparison.
2. Kuhn argued that incommensurability is a key feature of scientific revolutions, where old paradigms become less useful as new paradigms emerge.
3. When two theories are incommensurable, it may lead to difficulties in communication between proponents of each theory, as they operate with differing frameworks.
4. Incommensurability raises questions about objectivity in science, as the choice of theory can depend on subjective factors rather than purely empirical data.
5. Philosophers of science have debated whether incommensurability undermines rational choice in theory selection, suggesting that sometimes choices are based on non-epistemic values.

Review Questions

• How does incommensurability challenge the notion of objective comparison between competing scientific theories?
  • Incommensurability creates a significant challenge for objective comparison because it suggests that competing theories may not share a common framework or vocabulary. When two theories are incommensurable, their foundational concepts may differ so much that they cannot be assessed using the same criteria. This means that proponents of each theory might not understand or appreciate the other's perspective, leading to potential biases and difficulties in evaluating their merits based solely on empirical evidence.
• Discuss how Kuhn's theory of scientific revolutions incorporates the concept of incommensurability and its implications for normal science.
  • Kuhn's theory of scientific revolutions incorporates incommensurability by suggesting that during paradigm shifts, the transition from one scientific framework to another involves more than just empirical differences. Old paradigms become increasingly ineffective at explaining phenomena as new paradigms emerge, making normal science dependent on outdated theories. Incommensurability implies that scientists working within different paradigms may approach problems differently and use varied methodologies, which complicates consensus and collaboration during these transitional phases.
• Evaluate how the concept of incommensurability affects theory choice and the implications for scientific progress.
  • The concept of incommensurability has profound implications for theory choice, as it suggests that the decision to adopt one theory over another might not be entirely rational or based on empirical evidence. Since theories can be so fundamentally different that they are incompatible, scientists may rely on subjective factors such as values, beliefs, or social contexts when choosing between them. This raises questions about the nature of scientific progress; if theory selection is influenced by non-epistemic considerations, then progress may not follow a linear trajectory and could reflect more about societal influences than purely logical advancements.

Related terms

Paradigm Shift:

A fundamental change in the basic concepts and experimental practices of a scientific discipline, often leading to the adoption of a new paradigm.

Normal Science:

The regular work of scientists theorizing, observing, and experimenting within a prevailing framework or paradigm.

Falsifiability:

The principle that a theory must be able to be proven false to be considered scientific; this plays a role in distinguishing between competing theories.