Running across this post quite a few years later, but our paper on the upper limit of value addresses this incommensurability a bit, and cites Chang’s “Incomparability and practical reason” which (we feel) addresses this fairly completely.
Secondarily, Mobiot’s claim isn’t really incommensurability, it’s that those with power (mostly economic power,) value things he cares about too little, that the environment, which is a public good, is underprotected by markets, and that humanity isn’t cautious enough of the environmental risks. All reasonable points, but not really incommensurability.
Running across this post quite a few years later, but our paper on the upper limit of value addresses this incommensurability a bit, and cites Chang’s “Incomparability and practical reason” which (we feel) addresses this fairly completely.
Secondarily, Mobiot’s claim isn’t really incommensurability, it’s that those with power (mostly economic power,) value things he cares about too little, that the environment, which is a public good, is underprotected by markets, and that humanity isn’t cautious enough of the environmental risks. All reasonable points, but not really incommensurability.