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Consequentialist demographic norms and parenting rights
Social Choice and Welfare
|January 1, 1988
Summary
This study explores social norms and ethical theories, finding that classical utilitarianism can be implied under certain conditions. It also addresses the
Area of Science:
- Moral Philosophy
- Social Norms
- Decision Theory
Background:
- Extends prior research on dynamically consistent consequentialist social norms.
- Addresses decision trees with risk where population is an endogenous variable.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze ethical implications of endogenous population in decision trees.
- To derive classical utilitarianism under specific ethical frameworks.
- To resolve the 'repugnant conclusion' in population ethics.
Main Methods:
- Formal modeling of decision trees with endogenous population.
- Application of ethical liberalism and irrelevance of distant ancestors.
- Analysis of continuity conditions in ethical frameworks.
Main Results:
- Classical utilitarianism is implied under specified ethical liberalism and continuity conditions.
- The 'repugnant conclusion' can be avoided by limiting individual interests or recognizing parental interests in family size.
Conclusions:
- Potential parents' interests in family size offer a superior resolution to the 'repugnant conclusion' compared to limiting birth-circumstance interests.
- The study refines consequentialist social norms for endogenous population scenarios.