concept of incommensurability

Incommensurability refers to the idea that two concepts, theories, or systems cannot be directly compared or measured against each other because they use different frameworks or standards. Essentially, their criteria for evaluation are incompatible, making it difficult or impossible to determine which is better or more valid through a common measure. This concept often appears in philosophy of science, illustrating that different scientific paradigms or beliefs may be so fundamentally different that they resist straightforward comparison, leading to challenges in evaluating progress or consensus across different schools of thought.