UDC: 165.1
https://doi.org/10.25198/2077-7175-2026-5-109


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ETHICAL AND EPISTEMOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF INCOMMENSURABILITY IN INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH

A. M. Dorozhkin1, S. V. Shibarshina2
National Research Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
1 e-mail: a.m.dorozhkin@gmail.com
2 e-mail: lanashibarshina@yandex.ru

Abstract. This article aims to examine a few important aspects of incommensurability in interdisciplinary research, with an emphasis on identifying and analyzing ethical and epistemological barriers and procedures for reflecting on and overcoming them. The relevance of this study stems from the growing role of interdisciplinary projects and the associated difficulties in integrating diverse epistemological approaches. The scientific novelty of this research lies in its detailed theoretical and methodological analysis of the ethical and epistemological foundations of incommensurability, as well as in the proposal of a model for their practical diagnosis based on a reconstructed case of interaction between engineers and sociologists on the design of urban technologies. The obtained results allow for a new understanding of the mechanisms underlying latent conflicts and unaccounted discrepancies in interdisciplinary work, expanding the scope of the traditional epistemological approach. Drawing on the philosophy of science (T. Kuhn, W. Heisenberg, P. Galison), the sociology of scientific knowledge (K. Knorr-Cetina, B. Latour), ethical and epistemological studies (N. Tuana, E. Brister), and the reconstruction of an empirical case, the authors demonstrate that incommensurability between disciplines not only manifests itself in differences in scientific language, conceptual apparatus, and research methods, but is also deeply rooted in the divergent values, ethical norms, and social roles of the participants. Particular attention is given to the critique of superficial compromises arising from the technical coordination of terms and procedures («trading zones», «pidgin»), which often mask fundamental differences in goals, assessments, and interpretations of the significance of results. By analyzing the simulated case study, the authors have demonstrated how technical and socio-humanitarian approaches to concepts such as «secure data collection», «accessible interface», «informed consent», and the statement «residents’ opinions have been taken into account» generate implicit misunderstandings hidden in a simplified, hybrid language. This case study reveals the importance of reflecting on implicit barriers to successful interdisciplinary work. It is shown that overcoming incommensurability requires the development of specific practices of collective reflection: a joint discussion of the values, ethical principles, and goals of all project team members. The conclusion outlines prospects for using the proposed tools to improve the effectiveness of scientific collaboration and points to directions for further empirical research on diagnosing and overcoming ethical and epistemological barriers in interdisciplinary science.

Key words: interdisciplinarity, incommensurability, epistemic culture, trading zone, closed theory, hybrid vocabulary, ethical-epistemological barrier, black box, implicit values.

Cite as: Dorozhkin, A. M., Shibarshina, S. V. (2026) [Ethical and epistemological aspects of incommensurability in interdisciplinary research]. Intellekt. Innovacii. Investicii [Intellect. Innovations. Investments]. Vol. 5, pp. 109–118. – https://doi.org/10.25198/2077-7175-2026-5-109.


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