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Individual utility in a context of asymmetric sensitivity to pleasure and pain: an interpretation of Bentham's felicific calculus

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  • Andr Lapidus
  • Nathalie Sigot

Abstract

This paper aims at exploring, in a formal way, Bentham's statement that 'the pleasure of gaining is not equal to the evil of losing', which belongs to those aspects of the principle of utility left aside by Jevons' reconstruction. Consequently, the agent's preference order will be viewed as depending on his initial situation, and on asymmetric sensitivity to gains and losses, relative to this situation. This leads 1) to discuss the coexistence of multiple preference orders, illustrated by Bentham's analysis of the optimal labour contract; and 2) to introduce true deliberation as a consequence of the gap between positive choice and rival assessments of utility.

Suggested Citation

  • Andr Lapidus & Nathalie Sigot, 2000. "Individual utility in a context of asymmetric sensitivity to pleasure and pain: an interpretation of Bentham's felicific calculus," The European Journal of the History of Economic Thought, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 7(1), pages 45-78.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:eujhet:v:7:y:2000:i:1:p:45-78
    DOI: 10.1080/096725600361852
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. A. Baujard, 2006. "From moral welfarism to technical non-welfarism : A step back to Bentham’s felicific calculus of its members," Economics Working Paper Archive (University of Rennes & University of Caen) 200606, Center for Research in Economics and Management (CREM), University of Rennes, University of Caen and CNRS.
    2. André Lapidus, 2000. "La rationalité du choix passionnel : En quête de l'héritage de David Hume," Post-Print hal-00343939, HAL.
    3. Zhihua Li & Kirsten I. M. Rohde & Peter P. Wakker, 2017. "Improving one’s choices by putting oneself in others’ shoes – An experimental analysis," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 54(1), pages 1-13, February.

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