This question <538|131> overall <542|544> Leftyjace: <542|613>.  
  Question 196: Aristotle wrote: ‘There can be no exchange without equality, and no equality without commensurability.’ What does he mean by this? What is the difference between equality and commensurability?   
  [543] Leftyjace: Aristotle means that individuals will not exchange commodities unless they are considered equal. If they somehow were not considered equal before, the very fact that they were exchanged for each other indicates that in the eyes of the agents they are now considered to be equal. Therefore, there cannot be an exchange without equality. Further, two separate commodities can only be considered to be equal if there is something in them - some facet, or some substance inherent in them - that is common to the two commodities. Therefore, there cannot be equality without commensurability. As far as the difference between equality and commensurability: equality concerns itself with equality between two things; commensurability can be present without equality, as the two things may have something in common, but may not necessarily be equal.   
 
 
 
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