CF Dictionary · Decision Making
Quantitative Difference
A difference of degree within the same dimension. CF treats most quantitative differences as unimportant at the breakpoint level.
A quantitative difference is a difference of degree within the same dimension. "$100 vs. $200" is quantitative. "3 wheels vs. 4 wheels" is still quantitative (more wheels, same dimension).
CF's view of quantitative differences
CF downplays the importance of most quantitative differences:
- They're dense. Many of them, with little conceptual meaning.
- They don't matter at breakpoints. Above or below the breakpoint is what matters.
- They become qualitative only at breakpoints. Most are inside a single category.
When quantitative differences matter
- At breakpoints. A small quantitative change can cross a breakpoint and become qualitative.
- When comparing options near a breakpoint. Then precision matters.
- When the goal is maximise. CF argues this is rare; most goals are threshold-based.
Quantitative vs. qualitative is itself a CF judgement
CF says: convert quantitative to qualitative where possible. Find breakpoints. Stop counting decimals when you only need to know if you're above the threshold.
"There are infinitely many quantitative differences between analog factors. But there are only a small number of relevant qualitative differences for a particular context with a few goals." — criticalfallibilism.com