IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/cup/utilit/v27y2015i02p240-250_00.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Utilitarianism or Prioritarianism?

Author

Listed:
  • TÄNNSJÖ, TORBJÖRN

Abstract

A simple hedonistic theory allowing for interpersonal comparisons of happiness is taken for granted in this article. The hedonistic theory is used to compare utilitarianism, urging us to maximize the sum total of happiness, with prioritarianism, urging us to maximize a sum total of weighed happiness. It is argued with reference to a few thought experiments that utilitarianism is, intuitively speaking, more plausible than prioritarianism. The problem with prioritarianism surfaces when prudence and morality come apart.

Suggested Citation

  • Tã„Nnsjã–, Torbjã–Rn, 2015. "Utilitarianism or Prioritarianism?," Utilitas, Cambridge University Press, vol. 27(2), pages 240-250, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:utilit:v:27:y:2015:i:02:p:240-250_00
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0953820815000011/type/journal_article
    File Function: link to article abstract page
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:cup:utilit:v:27:y:2015:i:02:p:240-250_00. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Kirk Stebbing (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.cambridge.org/uti .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.