In that formulation, addition of the thing has utility equal to minus the utility of removal of the same thing. And that only if addition/​removal can be defined.
About states—there are too many of them, some are macroscopically different but irrelevant to human untility (I am next to sure it is possible to shift some distant galaxies in a way that many sapient being will be able to see different sky and none would care).
The meaningful thing is ratio of utility differentials between some states.
In that formulation, addition of the thing has utility equal to minus the utility of removal of the same thing. And that only if addition/​removal can be defined.
About states—there are too many of them, some are macroscopically different but irrelevant to human untility (I am next to sure it is possible to shift some distant galaxies in a way that many sapient being will be able to see different sky and none would care).
The meaningful thing is ratio of utility differentials between some states.