The Axiomatic Approach to Population Ethics

Charles Blackorby, Walter Bossert and David Donaldson

No 24, Discussion Paper from Center for Intergenerational Studies, Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University

Abstract: This paper examines several families of population principles in the light of a set of axioms. In addition to the critical-level utilitarian, number-sensitive critical-level utilitarian and number-dampened families and their generalized counterparts, we consider the restricted number-dampened family (suggested by Hurka) and introduce two new families: the restricted critical-level and restricted number-dependent critical-level families. Subsets of the restricted families have nonnegative critical levels and avoid both the repugnant and sadistic conclusions but fail to satisfy an important independence condition. We defend the critical-level principles with positive critical levels.

Keywords: Population Ethics; Repugnant Conclusion; Sadistic Conclusion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D63 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 28 pages
Date: 2001-03
Note: March 12, 2001
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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https://hermes-ir.lib.hit-u.ac.jp/hermes/ir/re/14445/pie_dp24.pdf

Related works:
Journal Article: The Axiomatic Approach to Population Ethics (2003)
Working Paper: The Axiomatic Approach to Population Ethics (2001)
Working Paper: The Axiomatic Approach to Population Ethics (2001)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hit:piedp1:24

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