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It is common to distinguish normative economics ("what ought to be" economic matters ) from Positive Economics ("what is"). But many normative (value) judgments are held conditionally, to be given up if facts or knowledge of facts changes, so that a change of values may be purely scientific (Sen, 1970, p, 61). This undermines the common distinction (Wong, 1987, p. 923). But Sen distinguishes ''basic (normative) judgments'', which do not depend on such knowledge, from ''nonbasic'' judgments, which do. He finds it interesting to note that "no judgments are demonstrably basic" while some value judgments may be shown to be nonbasic. This leaves open the possibility of fruitful scientific discussion of value judgments (Sen, 1970, pp. 63-64). SEE ALSO
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