How is a spectrum supposed to not have a total ordering? To me saying sth is a spectrum always invokes an image of being able to map to/represent the property as an interval (unbounded or bounded) which should always give it a total ordering right?

[–] Zeshade 3 points 5 months ago

Total ordering doesn’t mean that the order is strict though. You can have multiple individuals with the same level of gayness.

Total ordering means all elements are comparable (=< would be a suitable relation), not that all elements have their individual rank (< relation).

A spectrum implies that the set is totally ordered but not necessarily strictly ordered.

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