Illusions of Degree: the instructive case of ‘coherence’

This paper challenges the popular but undefended view that ‘coherence’ is a matter of degree. Deploying philosophy of language, logic and linguistics, the paper aims to show that coherence’s degree credentials are a striking illusion, thereby prompting two significant worries: (i) a specific concern about present misunderstanding and misuse of coherence and (ii) a general concern about the misunderstanding and misuse of degree. This analysis encourages similar re-evaluation of degree claims made for other high-value concepts in law and beyond, whilst resolving some of the difficulties presently frustrating the successful deployment of coherence in legal theory, legal practice and public policy.