> There is also a catch in the hypothetical - let’s assume that the utility gain for the gifted son from living in the suburbs would be larger than the utility gain for the disabled son from living in the city.
I think that stretches credulity too far, so a utilitarian shouldn’t be expected to accept the far-fetched assumption.
Imagine if it said “let’s assume that depriving your disabled son of food for a week and giving the extra food to your gifted son would increase total utility, would you do it?” Or “let’s assume that giving $1 from a poor person to a billionaire would increase total utility, would you do it?”
You don’t get free reign to make ludicrous assumptions and expect me to agree to them to prove that I’m a utilitarian.
I think that stretches credulity too far, so a utilitarian shouldn’t be expected to accept the far-fetched assumption.
Imagine if it said “let’s assume that depriving your disabled son of food for a week and giving the extra food to your gifted son would increase total utility, would you do it?” Or “let’s assume that giving $1 from a poor person to a billionaire would increase total utility, would you do it?”
You don’t get free reign to make ludicrous assumptions and expect me to agree to them to prove that I’m a utilitarian.