I’d notice a similarity with convergent series. In particular, geometric series. Just because you approach someone an infinite number of times doesn’t mean you get all that close to them. (ETA: 1/2^n approaches −1 an infinite number of times but never gets closer than 1 away from it)
Also, even if you assign yourself equal weight as anyone else, you are usually more able to affect yourself than anyone else and a lot of the others’ demands cancel out. So your tiny chunk of utility, though insignificant in respect to your overall utility function, produces an very significant derivative in respect to your possible actions.
I’d notice a similarity with convergent series. In particular, geometric series. Just because you approach someone an infinite number of times doesn’t mean you get all that close to them. (ETA: 1/2^n approaches −1 an infinite number of times but never gets closer than 1 away from it)
Also, even if you assign yourself equal weight as anyone else, you are usually more able to affect yourself than anyone else and a lot of the others’ demands cancel out. So your tiny chunk of utility, though insignificant in respect to your overall utility function, produces an very significant derivative in respect to your possible actions.