Extending the Original Position: Revisiting the Pattanaik Critique of Vickrey/Harsanyi Utilitarianism

Peter Hammond

Global COE Hi-Stat Discussion Paper Series from Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University

Abstract: Harsanyi's original position treats personal identity, upon which each individual's utility depends, as risky. Pattanaik's critique is related to the problem of scaling "state-dependent" von Neumann-Morgenstern utility when determining subjective probabilities. But a unique social welfare functional, incorporating both level and unit interpersonal comparisons, emerges from contemplating an "extended" original position allowing the probability of becoming each person to be chosen. Moreover, the paper suggests the relevance of a "Harsanyi ethical type space", with types as both causes and objects of preference.

Date: 2013-04
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hpe, nep-mic and nep-upt
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http://gcoe.ier.hit-u.ac.jp/research/discussion/2008/pdf/gd12-298.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
Working Paper: Extending the Original Position: Revisiting the Pattanaik Critique of Vickrey/Harsanyi Utilitarianism (2013)
Working Paper: Extending the Original Position: Revisiting the Pattanaik Critique of Vickrey/Harsanyi Utilitarianism (2013)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hst:ghsdps:gd12-298

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