Infinite Utility and Temporal Neutrality

Utilitas 6 (2):193 (1994)
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Abstract

Suppose that time is infinitely long towards the future, and that each feasible action produces a finite amount of utility at each time. Then, under appropriate conditions, each action produces an infinite amount of utility. Does this mean that utilitarianism lacks the resources to discriminate among such actions? Since each action produces the same infinite amount of utility, it seems that utilitarianism must judge all actions permissible, judge all actions impermissible, or remain completely silent. If the future is infinite, that is, the prospects for utilitarianism look bleak

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Peter Vallentyne
University of Missouri, Columbia

Citations of this work

Climate Ethics: Justifying a Positive Social Time Preference.Joseph Heath - 2017 - Journal of Moral Philosophy 14 (4):435–462.
With infinite utility, more needn't be better.Joel David Hamkins & Barbara Montero - 2000 - Australasian Journal of Philosophy 78 (2):231 – 240.

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References found in this work

Infinite utility.James Cain - 1995 - Australasian Journal of Philosophy 73 (3):401 – 404.
Utilitarianism and infinite utility.Peter Vallentyne - 1993 - Australasian Journal of Philosophy 71 (2):212 – 217.
Utilitarian Eschatology.Mark T. Nelson - 1991 - American Philosophical Quarterly 28 (4):339-47.
Infinite utility: Anonymity and person-centredness.Peter Vallentyne - 1995 - Australasian Journal of Philosophy 73 (3):413 – 420.

Add more references