In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship by Nathaniel Philbrick

Introduction
The book “In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex” by Nathaniel Philbrick is tragic, eyes widening and heart wrenching where all the morals and ethics are gravely subjected to situation and questioned when it comes to survival. What they must do for survival? How man love their lives and no matter what strikes upon them, holler from behind, ambush their morale, yet they want to keep going just for the sake of living. The book is epitome of such a situation that encounters survival over morality. However, in the thrust of knowledge and oceans of secrets locked inside the chambers of this world, there is a heavy price men have to pay in the ordeal of yearning for knowledge.

Analysis
We can partially agree to what Kerzner has to say about quantifying cost and benefits. However, it is indeed; very much a practical approach studied by Kerzner who states cost a phenomenon difficult to quantify. But it would be gross understatement to suggest that it is rather more difficult than quantifying benefits. As in the above answer, two different examples are quoted to back Kerzner’s claim. The example of the cost of airport and train will justify my stance on the subject. It is difficult to quantify the cost of building up an airport even after conducting cost-benefit analysis as the operating and periodic costs vary but can we measure the number of citizens who will be benefitted from airport compared to train. I totally agree with your take on the subject but we can partially agree with Kerzner as he backs his opinions with practical justifications.
Well it is hard to justify whether costs and benefits can be quantified. However, they can be measured to a certain degree, but there are multiple factors inculcated into the process that makes it difficult to quantify the factors. There are tangible and intangible costs. One we can easily measure and the ones hidden and unforeseen, such can be explained via involuntary costs, operating expenses and variable costs. Therefore, it becomes difficult to quantify costs. One cannot agree whether costs are most difficult to quantify or benefits. Just because we don’t keep a count of number of benefits we enjoy doesn’t mean it is easy to measure. They both are difficult to measure. However, the measures can vary from case to case.

Feasibility studies and quantifying costs vs. benefits
It can be agreed upon without any doubt the reason why feasibility reports may be deemed as soft data.