Utilitarianism versus the repugnant conclusion

Juan Cordoba

Indian Economic Review, 2023, vol. 58, issue 1, No 10, 163-180

Abstract: Abstract An influential body of literature has challenged the suitability of utilitarianism as a criterion for population ethics. Parfit’s (Reason and Pearsons. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1984) Repugnant Conclusion posits that utilitarianism favors the existence of large, impoverished societies. Dasgupta’s (Regarding optimum population. J Polit Philos 13:414–442, 2005; Time and the generations. Columbia University Press, New York, 2019) calibrated models provide support for this conclusion. This paper demonstrates that these findings can be overturned by considering alternative, plausible assumptions. A wealthy society with a small population can be consistent with utilitarianism. The paper argues that utilitarianism offers a reliable benchmark for population ethics.

Keywords: Population ethics; Genesis problem; Quasiconcavity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D6 J13 J17 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1007/s41775-023-00167-y

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