@cshentrup i'm glad to be informed, and the harsanyian / rawlsian /shentrupian thought experiment is a fine one, but it has been my view for a long time that that social-welfare-function-style "utilitarianism" is a worthy exercise despite incomparable interpersonal utility. our difference is that i recognize the result of such exercise as inherently reflecting the values of the exercisor, and you think it can reflect scientific truth only a fool could deny, regardless of values.