Value Incommensurability: Ethics, Risk, and Decision-Making

Incommensurability is the inability to compare two options using conventional comparative relations. This book explores new research on incommensurability from influential philosophers and discusses its implications in ethical theory, decision theory, and population ethics. It addresses issues such as the Repugnant Conclusion, Mere Addition Paradox, and Spectrum Arguments and discusses the challenges it poses for decision-making.

Format: Hardback
Length: 270 pages
Publication date: 14 December 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Incommensurability is a concept that defies conventional comparative analysis, making it impossible to establish how two options relate to each other. This book presents groundbreaking research on incommensurability from esteemed philosophers who have played pivotal roles in shaping the field. These philosophers include John Broome, Ruth Chang, and Wlodek Rabinowicz.

The book explores four key aspects related to incommensurability. In the first part, the contributors synthesize various perspectives on explaining incommensurability, offering a comprehensive overview of the competing theories. Part II showcases the practical applications of incommensurability in addressing challenging ethical dilemmas and population ethics issues. The contributors address the Repugnant Conclusion, the Mere Addition Paradox, and the Spectrum Arguments, presenting insightful solutions and analyses.

Part III delves into the complexities of incommensurability in decision theory. The chapters in this section outline and summarize the problems caused by incommensurability, highlighting the challenges it poses for making rational and informed choices. Part IV addresses topics related to risk, uncertainty, and incommensurability, providing valuable insights into the interplay between these factors and their impact on decision-making processes.

Value Incommensurability: Ethics, Risk, and Decision-Making is a valuable resource for researchers and advanced students engaged in ethical theory, decision theory, action theory, and philosophy of economics. It offers a comprehensive exploration of incommensurability, shedding light on its theoretical foundations, practical applications, and the broader implications it holds for our understanding of value and decision-making.

Weight: 670g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367702182