(Apart from: I wouldn’t say that I was maximising others utilty. I’d say I was maximising their happiness, freedom, fulfilment, etc. A utility function is an abstract mathematical thing. We can prove that rational agents behave as if they were trying to maximise some utility function. Since I’m trying to be a rational agent I try and make sure my ideas are consistent with a utility function, and so I sometimes talk of “my utility function”.
But when I consider other people I don’t value their utility functions. I just directly value their happiness, freedom, fulfilment, and so on. I don’t value their utility functions because, One, they’re not rational and so they don’t have utility functions. Two, valuing each other’s utility would lead to difficult self-reference. But mostly Three, on introspection I really do just value their happiness, freedom, fulfilment, etc. and not their utility.
The sense in which they do have utility is that each contributes utility to me. But then there’s no such thing as “an individual’s utility” because (as we’ve seen) the utility other people give to me is a combined function of all of their happiness, freedom, fulfilment, and so on.)
Apart from: I wouldn’t say that I was maximising others utilty. I’d say I was maximising their happiness, freedom, fulfilment, etc
I think I understand. I tend to use the word “utility” to mean something like “the sum total of everything a person values.” Your use is probably more precise, and closer to the original meaning.
I also get very nervous of the idea of maximizing utility because I believe wholeheartedly that value is complex. So if we define utility too narrowly and then try to maximize it we might lose something important. So right now I try to “increase” or “improve” utility rather than maximize it.
Agreed on all counts.
(Apart from: I wouldn’t say that I was maximising others utilty. I’d say I was maximising their happiness, freedom, fulfilment, etc. A utility function is an abstract mathematical thing. We can prove that rational agents behave as if they were trying to maximise some utility function. Since I’m trying to be a rational agent I try and make sure my ideas are consistent with a utility function, and so I sometimes talk of “my utility function”.
But when I consider other people I don’t value their utility functions. I just directly value their happiness, freedom, fulfilment, and so on. I don’t value their utility functions because, One, they’re not rational and so they don’t have utility functions. Two, valuing each other’s utility would lead to difficult self-reference. But mostly Three, on introspection I really do just value their happiness, freedom, fulfilment, etc. and not their utility.
The sense in which they do have utility is that each contributes utility to me. But then there’s no such thing as “an individual’s utility” because (as we’ve seen) the utility other people give to me is a combined function of all of their happiness, freedom, fulfilment, and so on.)
I think I understand. I tend to use the word “utility” to mean something like “the sum total of everything a person values.” Your use is probably more precise, and closer to the original meaning.
I also get very nervous of the idea of maximizing utility because I believe wholeheartedly that value is complex. So if we define utility too narrowly and then try to maximize it we might lose something important. So right now I try to “increase” or “improve” utility rather than maximize it.