Perhaps a related concept is this: Are utility functions necessarily scalar, or can they be vector functions? If they are scalar, then there is always a large enough value of dust specks to outweigh the disutility of one person being tortured. If utility can be a vector function, then it’s possible that the disutility of torture outweighs the disutility of any number of dust specks.
Perhaps a related concept is this: Are utility functions necessarily scalar, or can they be vector functions? If they are scalar, then there is always a large enough value of dust specks to outweigh the disutility of one person being tortured. If utility can be a vector function, then it’s possible that the disutility of torture outweighs the disutility of any number of dust specks.