Walter wants explanation in his latest blog. He questions that the premise of my analysis, which is to suppose that a society has a foundational law against theft, bypasses the unanimity problem. The latter problem, unanimity, is that we are unable as outside observers to sum up utilities or “happineses” of people, and therefore we cannot say that some measure or law or action adds or subtracts from general happiness (social welfare, the common good) unless it affects everyone in the same direction. And since we hardly ever find unanimity, we as outsiders or observers, can’t definitely say that any … Continue reading Social Utility — MSR-5