TY - JOUR
T1 - II - On modelling vagueness - And on not modelling incommensurability
AU - Sugden, R.
PY - 2009/6/1
Y1 - 2009/6/1
N2 - This paper defines and analyses the concept of a 'ranking problem'. In a ranking problem, a set of objects, each of which possesses some common property P to some degree, are ranked by P-ness. I argue that every eligible answer to a ranking problem can be expressed as a complete and transitive 'is at least as P as' relation. Vagueness is expressed as a multiplicity of eligible rankings. Incommensurability, properly understood, is the absence of a common property P. Trying to analyse incommensurability in the same framework as ranking problems causes unnecessary confusion.
AB - This paper defines and analyses the concept of a 'ranking problem'. In a ranking problem, a set of objects, each of which possesses some common property P to some degree, are ranked by P-ness. I argue that every eligible answer to a ranking problem can be expressed as a complete and transitive 'is at least as P as' relation. Vagueness is expressed as a multiplicity of eligible rankings. Incommensurability, properly understood, is the absence of a common property P. Trying to analyse incommensurability in the same framework as ranking problems causes unnecessary confusion.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=65849463442&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1467-8349.2009.00174.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1467-8349.2009.00174.x
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:65849463442
VL - 83
SP - 95
EP - 113
JO - Aristotelian Society Supplementary Volume
JF - Aristotelian Society Supplementary Volume
SN - 0309-7013
IS - 1
ER -