Ontology, Grammar, and Incommensurability

Philosophics — Philosophical and Political Ramblings · Feb 11, 2026 · 16m

Language Philosopher Bry Willis explores why discussions regarding gender consistently reach an impasse, suggesting the failure is philosophical rather than personal. The author argues that opposing sides operate from incommensurable ontologies, meaning they disagree on the fundamental nature of what exists and what counts as evidence. These differing frameworks create competing grammars of sense that render the opposing side’s arguments not just wrong, but entirely nonsensical. Because these worldviews lack shared rules of admissibility, traditional dialogue becomes impossible as neither…