The Philosophical Problems Surrounding Interpersonal Utility Comparisons Cover Image

Filozoficzne problemy wokół interpersonalnych porównań użyteczności
The Philosophical Problems Surrounding Interpersonal Utility Comparisons

Author(s): Tomasz Kwarciński
Subject(s): Philosophy
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Ekonomicznego w Krakowie
Keywords: interpersonal utility comparisons; welfare; utility; preferences

Summary/Abstract: I attempt a systematic analysis of the philosophical problems related to interpersonal utility comparisons. The issue has importance both for economics theory and practice. There are four groups of such problems: semantic, epistemological, anthropological and axiological. My investigation of intergroup relationships led to the following conclusions: first, the most important problems are semantic ones; second, descriptive interpretations of interpersonal utility comparisons are based on doubtful semantic and epistemological premises; third, normative interpretations of interpersonal utility comparisons can be formulated upon different epistemological premises.

  • Issue Year: 929/2014
  • Issue No: 05
  • Page Range: 5-17
  • Page Count: 13
  • Language: Polish