Unacceptable risks and the continuity axiom

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Unacceptable risks and the continuity axiom. / Jensen, Karsten Klint.

I: Economics and Philosophy, Bind 28, Nr. 1, 2012, s. 31-42.

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelfagfællebedømt

Harvard

Jensen, KK 2012, 'Unacceptable risks and the continuity axiom', Economics and Philosophy, bind 28, nr. 1, s. 31-42. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266267112000107

APA

Jensen, K. K. (2012). Unacceptable risks and the continuity axiom. Economics and Philosophy, 28(1), 31-42. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266267112000107

Vancouver

Jensen KK. Unacceptable risks and the continuity axiom. Economics and Philosophy. 2012;28(1):31-42. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266267112000107

Author

Jensen, Karsten Klint. / Unacceptable risks and the continuity axiom. I: Economics and Philosophy. 2012 ; Bind 28, Nr. 1. s. 31-42.

Bibtex

@article{a82dafda1bd14880aa84fade2e67a0e6,
title = "Unacceptable risks and the continuity axiom",
abstract = "Consider a sequence of outcomes of descending value, A > B > C > . . . > Z. According to Larry Temkin, there are reasons to deny the continuity axiom in certain {\textquoteleft}extreme{\textquoteright} cases, i.e. cases of triplets of outcomes A, B and Z, where A and B differ little in value, but B and Z differ greatly. But, Temkin argues, if we assume continuity for {\textquoteleft}easy{\textquoteright} cases, i.e. cases where the loss is small, we can derive continuity for the {\textquoteleft}extreme{\textquoteright} case by applying the axiom of substitution and the axiom of transitivity. The rejection of continuity for {\textquoteleft}extreme{\textquoteright} cases therefore renders the triad of continuity in {\textquoteleft}easy{\textquoteright} cases, the axiom of substitution and the axiom of transitivity inconsistent. As shown by Arrhenius and Rabinowitz, Temkin's argument is flawed. I present a result which is stronger than their alternative proof of an inconsistency. However, this result is not quite what Temkin intends, because it only refers to an ordinal ranking of the outcomes in the sequence, whereas Temkin appeals to intuitions about the size of gains and losses. Against this background, it is argued that Temkin's trilemma never gets off the ground. This is because Temkin appeals to two mutually inconsistent conceptions of aggregation of value. Once these are clearly separated, it will transpire, in connection with each of them, that one of the principles to be rejected does not appear plausible. Hence, there is nothing surprising or challenging about the result; it is merely a corollary to Expected Utility Theory.",
author = "Jensen, {Karsten Klint}",
year = "2012",
doi = "10.1017/S0266267112000107",
language = "English",
volume = "28",
pages = "31--42",
journal = "Economics and Philosophy",
issn = "0266-2671",
publisher = "Cambridge University Press",
number = "1",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Unacceptable risks and the continuity axiom

AU - Jensen, Karsten Klint

PY - 2012

Y1 - 2012

N2 - Consider a sequence of outcomes of descending value, A > B > C > . . . > Z. According to Larry Temkin, there are reasons to deny the continuity axiom in certain ‘extreme’ cases, i.e. cases of triplets of outcomes A, B and Z, where A and B differ little in value, but B and Z differ greatly. But, Temkin argues, if we assume continuity for ‘easy’ cases, i.e. cases where the loss is small, we can derive continuity for the ‘extreme’ case by applying the axiom of substitution and the axiom of transitivity. The rejection of continuity for ‘extreme’ cases therefore renders the triad of continuity in ‘easy’ cases, the axiom of substitution and the axiom of transitivity inconsistent. As shown by Arrhenius and Rabinowitz, Temkin's argument is flawed. I present a result which is stronger than their alternative proof of an inconsistency. However, this result is not quite what Temkin intends, because it only refers to an ordinal ranking of the outcomes in the sequence, whereas Temkin appeals to intuitions about the size of gains and losses. Against this background, it is argued that Temkin's trilemma never gets off the ground. This is because Temkin appeals to two mutually inconsistent conceptions of aggregation of value. Once these are clearly separated, it will transpire, in connection with each of them, that one of the principles to be rejected does not appear plausible. Hence, there is nothing surprising or challenging about the result; it is merely a corollary to Expected Utility Theory.

AB - Consider a sequence of outcomes of descending value, A > B > C > . . . > Z. According to Larry Temkin, there are reasons to deny the continuity axiom in certain ‘extreme’ cases, i.e. cases of triplets of outcomes A, B and Z, where A and B differ little in value, but B and Z differ greatly. But, Temkin argues, if we assume continuity for ‘easy’ cases, i.e. cases where the loss is small, we can derive continuity for the ‘extreme’ case by applying the axiom of substitution and the axiom of transitivity. The rejection of continuity for ‘extreme’ cases therefore renders the triad of continuity in ‘easy’ cases, the axiom of substitution and the axiom of transitivity inconsistent. As shown by Arrhenius and Rabinowitz, Temkin's argument is flawed. I present a result which is stronger than their alternative proof of an inconsistency. However, this result is not quite what Temkin intends, because it only refers to an ordinal ranking of the outcomes in the sequence, whereas Temkin appeals to intuitions about the size of gains and losses. Against this background, it is argued that Temkin's trilemma never gets off the ground. This is because Temkin appeals to two mutually inconsistent conceptions of aggregation of value. Once these are clearly separated, it will transpire, in connection with each of them, that one of the principles to be rejected does not appear plausible. Hence, there is nothing surprising or challenging about the result; it is merely a corollary to Expected Utility Theory.

U2 - 10.1017/S0266267112000107

DO - 10.1017/S0266267112000107

M3 - Journal article

VL - 28

SP - 31

EP - 42

JO - Economics and Philosophy

JF - Economics and Philosophy

SN - 0266-2671

IS - 1

ER -

ID: 40978275