This is a novel argument about the applicability of the repugnant conclusion for a certain form of the happiness dependence on wealth. A faster-than-logarithmic growth does not let one avoid the conclusion even if the resources are constrained. It looks like a publishable result, let alone deserving a mention in the wikipedia.
The point of the post was to investigate the reallocation of existing resources to maximize total utility by creating more less-happy people, and whether this can evade the mere addition paradox. In case of logarithmic dependence of utility on resources available, the utility of this reallocation peaks at a certain “optimal happiness,” thus evading the repugnant conclusion. Any faster growth, and the repugnant conclusion survives. Not sure what −1 in (resources − 1)^(1/3) does, haven’t done the calculation...
Check the math on the formula I gave, it also peaks, and it grows faster than log.
I don’t think it’s that interesting if the paradox is not faced with a fixed level of resources, since the paradox still makes it hard to construct an intuitive formalization of our preferences about populations that gives intuitive answers to a variety of possible problems, and besides resources aren’t fixed. See this post.
This is a novel argument about the applicability of the repugnant conclusion for a certain form of the happiness dependence on wealth. A faster-than-logarithmic growth does not let one avoid the conclusion even if the resources are constrained. It looks like a publishable result, let alone deserving a mention in the wikipedia.
Logarithmic growth does not let you avoid it either if resources increase as population increases at a certain rate.
The logarithm function isn’t even special here, it could just as well be that happiness = (resources − 1)^(1/3).
The point of the post was to investigate the reallocation of existing resources to maximize total utility by creating more less-happy people, and whether this can evade the mere addition paradox. In case of logarithmic dependence of utility on resources available, the utility of this reallocation peaks at a certain “optimal happiness,” thus evading the repugnant conclusion. Any faster growth, and the repugnant conclusion survives. Not sure what −1 in (resources − 1)^(1/3) does, haven’t done the calculation...
Check the math on the formula I gave, it also peaks, and it grows faster than log.
I don’t think it’s that interesting if the paradox is not faced with a fixed level of resources, since the paradox still makes it hard to construct an intuitive formalization of our preferences about populations that gives intuitive answers to a variety of possible problems, and besides resources aren’t fixed. See this post.