A dilemma for lexical and Archimedean views in population axiology

Economics and Philosophy 38 (3):395-415 (2022)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

Lexical views in population axiology can avoid the Repugnant Conclusion without violating Transitivity or Separability. However, they imply a dilemma: either some good life is better than any number of slightly worse lives, or else the ‘at least as good as’ relation on populations is radically incomplete. In this paper, I argue that Archimedean views face an analogous dilemma. I thus conclude that the lexical dilemma gives us little reason to prefer Archimedean views. Even if we give up on lexicality, problems of the same kind remain.

Author's Profile

Elliott Thornley
University of Oxford

Analytics

Added to PP
2021-06-07

Downloads
904 (#18,942)

6 months
260 (#8,955)

Historical graph of downloads since first upload
This graph includes both downloads from PhilArchive and clicks on external links on PhilPapers.
How can I increase my downloads?