So why is the goal of utilitarianism to maximize the sum of utilities?
Rather than, say, to maximize the minimal utility being considered?
I ask because the torture/dust specks question seems to be down to whether you think the way to combine multiple people's utility functions is by
a) Summing them (ie: "shut up and multiply"), or
b) Only looking at the worst-off individual (ie: "raise the floor")
And I can't find actual mathematical arguments about this.
(I know I'm years late, so if this is well settled, a quick pointer to that settlement would be much appreciated!)
So why is the goal of utilitarianism to maximize the sum of utilities?
There are different kinds of utilitarianism. What they have in common is that they recommend maximising some measure of utility. Where they differ is in how that utility is measured, and how different people's utilities are combined. Summing is one way; averaging is another; maximining yet another.
Mathematical arguments can tell you that if a person's preferences have certain properties, a utility measure can be constructed for them (e.g. the VNM theorem). Mathematics can draw out non...
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