ABSTRACT
Incommensurability stems from semantic dependence of the vocabulary employed by a theory upon the theoretical context in which it occurs. In proposing the incommensurability thesis, Thomas Kuhn and Paul Feyerabend were reacting against the empiricist philosophy of science which was then dominant. The incommensurability thesis has stirred controversy because of a number of unattractive consequences. Feyerabend's idea of incommensurability arose as a result of his rejection of the empiricists' neutral observation language. Exposition of Kuhn's position must trace his views through several historical stages of development. Incommensurability, as portrayed during Kuhn's middle period, involves partial translation failure between theories committed to different basic categories. The notion of a localized translation failure between interdefined sets of terms is the central feature of Kuhn's later account of incommensurability and the most significant refinement of his position. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
