Framework Comparison: Where Kennedy and Heim Diverge #
@cite{heim-2001} @cite{kennedy-2007} @cite{klein-1980} @cite{schwarzschild-2008}
Formal comparison of the degree semantic frameworks on shared empirical ground. By implementing all frameworks with the same type signatures, we can formally state where they agree and where they diverge.
Agreement #
All degree-based frameworks agree on the truth conditions of simple comparatives: "A is taller than B" iff μ(A) > μ(B). Klein's degree-free framework agrees under the natural correspondence between delineation functions and measure functions.
Divergences #
| Question | Kennedy | Heim | Klein | Schwarzschild |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Degrees in ontology? | Yes | Yes | No | Yes (intervals) |
| Scope of -er | DP | CP | N/A | DP |
| Measure phrases | Direct | Direct | Via ≈ | Direct |
| Subcomparatives | Special | Special | Special | Natural |
All degree-based frameworks agree on simple comparatives.
Heim and Schwarzschild (intervals) both yield
μ(A) > μ(B) for "A is taller than B" — the consensus
comparativeSem at positive direction.
Schwarzschild's interval comparative also agrees (reduces to point comparison on positive intervals).
Kennedy and Heim diverge on scope predictions. Heim's DegPs take
scope by QR (like DPs), while Kennedy's -er is DP-internal.
The scope differences are formalized in Heim2001.lean:
- Monotone collapse (∀/∃ + more):
exists_more_scope_collapse - Non-monotone divergence (exactly, less):
nonMonotoneData - Kennedy's generalization: DegP can't cross quantificational DPs
- Intensional verb scope:
intensionalVerbData
Klein's framework diverges fundamentally: it has no degrees at all.
We cannot directly compare truth conditions because Klein's
comparativeSem takes a delineation function, not a measure function.
However, under the natural correspondence — a delineation function that classifies entities as "tall in C" when they exceed some threshold determined by C — Klein's comparative follows from the degree-based analysis. If μ(a) > μ(b), then for the comparison class {a, b}, delineating at μ(b) puts a in the positive extension but not b.
Strengthened Klein correspondence: degree comparative ↔ Klein's
ordering via measureDelineation. No auxiliary hypotheses beyond
membership. Uses ordering_iff_degree from the theory layer.