How do we compare apples and oranges? This article examines 'commensuration,' the social process of comparing different entities using a common metric, a crucial aspect of decision-making and rationalization. Defining commensuration as the comparison of different entities according to a common metric, the authors analyze its historical significance, its role as a mode of power, and the cognitive and political implications of deeming something 'incommensurable.' By exploring commensuration's long history as an instrument of social thought and its inherent cognitive and political stakes, the authors emphasize how it can inform established fields of sociological inquiry. It suggests that when we compare it gives power to metrics and calling something imcomensurable has meaning. Providing a framework for future empirical studies, this article offers a valuable lens for understanding how diverse elements are evaluated and compared in social contexts. This research also gives us a better knowledge of the function of power in society.
Published in the Annual Review of Sociology, this article fits squarely within the journal's scope of providing comprehensive overviews and critical analyses of major topics in sociology. The examination of commensuration as a social process contributes to the theoretical understanding of social phenomena and aligns with the journal's commitment to advancing sociological knowledge.