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Neutral But Better : The Possibility of Null Hierarchies

Garcia, Andrés G. LU (2026) In Acta Analytica
Abstract

Can two items both be neutral in value yet differ in rank? I argue that they can, with significant implications: not everything neutral should be treated equally. This challenges the widespread assumption that neutral value marks a point of evaluative equivalence. I defend the intuitive case for neutral hierarchies through examples from aesthetics and welfare, then show that both major accounts of neutral value—comparative and non-comparative—can accommodate such hierarchies once divorced from certain theoretical commitments.

Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
keywords
Betterness, Fitting attitudes, Indifference, Neutral value
in
Acta Analytica
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • scopus:105030016991
ISSN
0353-5150
DOI
10.1007/s12136-026-00673-7
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b302c0c2-0e7c-4ca9-831f-ea24ce82b4ad
date added to LUP
2026-03-02 14:05:39
date last changed
2026-03-02 14:06:17
@article{b302c0c2-0e7c-4ca9-831f-ea24ce82b4ad,
  abstract     = {{<p>Can two items both be neutral in value yet differ in rank? I argue that they can, with significant implications: not everything neutral should be treated equally. This challenges the widespread assumption that neutral value marks a point of evaluative equivalence. I defend the intuitive case for neutral hierarchies through examples from aesthetics and welfare, then show that both major accounts of neutral value—comparative and non-comparative—can accommodate such hierarchies once divorced from certain theoretical commitments.</p>}},
  author       = {{Garcia, Andrés G.}},
  issn         = {{0353-5150}},
  keywords     = {{Betterness; Fitting attitudes; Indifference; Neutral value}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Acta Analytica}},
  title        = {{Neutral But Better : The Possibility of Null Hierarchies}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12136-026-00673-7}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s12136-026-00673-7}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}