What I disagree with is the proposition that there is this well-defined and objective concept of “fair” that, in the given situation, points to “splitting windfalls equally by weight.”
“Fair”, quoted, is a word. You don’t think it’s plausible that in English “fair” could refer to splitting windfalls equally by weight? (Or rather to something a bit more complicated that comes out to splitting windfalls equally by weight in the situation of the three travellers and the pie.)
I agree that someone could mean “splitting windfalls equally by weight” when they say “fair.” I further submit that words can be ambiguous, and someone else could mean “splitting windfalls equally by desire” when they say “fair.” In such a case, where the word seems to adding more heat than light, I would scrap it and go with the more precise phrases.
“Fair”, quoted, is a word. You don’t think it’s plausible that in English “fair” could refer to splitting windfalls equally by weight? (Or rather to something a bit more complicated that comes out to splitting windfalls equally by weight in the situation of the three travellers and the pie.)
I agree that someone could mean “splitting windfalls equally by weight” when they say “fair.” I further submit that words can be ambiguous, and someone else could mean “splitting windfalls equally by desire” when they say “fair.” In such a case, where the word seems to adding more heat than light, I would scrap it and go with the more precise phrases.