Rational Choice and the Transitivity of Betterness
Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, Forthcoming
22 Pages Posted: 27 Sep 2013
Date Written: April 20, 2013
Abstract
If A is better than B and B is better than C, then A is better than C, right? Larry Temkin and Stuart Rachels say: No! Betterness is nontransitive, they claim. In this paper, I discuss the central type of argument advanced by Temkin and Rachels for this radical idea, and argue that, given this view very likely has sceptical implications for practical reason, we would do well to identify alternative responses. I propose one such response, which employs the idea that rational agents might regard some options as incommensurate in value, and will reasonably employ a heuristic of status quo maintenance to avoid suboptimal choices from incommensurate goods.
Keywords: rational choice, transitivity, status quo bias, incommensurate value, practical reason
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