I think the key difference is that delta utilitarianism handles it better when the group’s utility function changes. For example, if I create a new person and add it to the group, that changes the group’s utility function. Under delta utilitarianism, I explicitly don’t count the preferences of the new person when making that decision. Under total utilitarianism, [most people would say that] I do count the preferences of that new person.
Under total utilitarianism, [most people would say that] I do count the preferences of that new person.
You only count their preferences under preference utilitarianism. I never really understood that form.
If you like having more happy people, then your utility function is higher for worlds with lots of happy people, and creating happy people makes the counter go up. If you like having happier people, but don’t care how many there are, then having more people doesn’t do anything.
I think the key difference is that delta utilitarianism handles it better when the group’s utility function changes. For example, if I create a new person and add it to the group, that changes the group’s utility function. Under delta utilitarianism, I explicitly don’t count the preferences of the new person when making that decision. Under total utilitarianism, [most people would say that] I do count the preferences of that new person.
You only count their preferences under preference utilitarianism. I never really understood that form.
If you like having more happy people, then your utility function is higher for worlds with lots of happy people, and creating happy people makes the counter go up. If you like having happier people, but don’t care how many there are, then having more people doesn’t do anything.