So there's this argument that utilitarianism doesn't work because (per work by behavioral economists) preferences are non-transitive. That is, you can't make a top to bottom list of preferences for each person where the higher position is always a higher preference.
But, like, surely preferences are *pretty* transitive? You can construct weird non-transitive cases. But for most purchase you could construct a list.
@ZachWeinersmith
Well, one major issue here is that we manage multiple preferences at the same time, and these change their position in the list in response to stuff.
So like, say cheeseburgers are near the top and have a value of +27, but pickle chips have a value of -28. Most of the time, as much as you like the burger, you won't accept it if it has pickles, or you'll remove them before eating it.
Now let's say you're really hungry. Haven't eaten in days. Now that pickle number might go to -14. Still don't like pickles, but you're starving and won't readily reject the burger on that basis alone. Not unless maybe mustard is at -14 or more, tipping the scales again.
Zach Weinersmith
Willow Brook 💜