Diacritica 25-2_Filosofia.indb - cehum - Universidade do Minho

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A 1 > 1 A 2 ; A 2 > 1 A 3 ; ... ; A n-2 > 1 A n-1 ; A n-1 > 1 A n ; A n > 10 A 1 > 1 A 2 ; ...
OSCAR HORTA
Hence, for any x, A x appears to be better than A x+1 , and A x-1 appears
to be better than A x . Moreover, we can also confi dently state that for any x
(such that x is at least higher than 4 and lower than n-3), A x appears to be
better than A x+2 , than A x+3 , or than A x+4 , and worse than A x-2 , A x-3 , or A x-4 .
However, this contradicts the intuitions we have when we have to
choose between options that are far from each other in the spectrum. We
have seen that A n > 10 A 1 . Moreover, A n also appears to be much better than,
A 2 , A 3 , or A 4 . As a matter of fact, it seems that the strength of our preference
for A n over A 2 , A 3 , or A 4 is higher than the strength of our preference for
A n over A 1 . Also, if we do not consider A n , but, A n-1 , A n-2 or A n-3 , we reach a
similar conclusion. Intuitively, we still fi nd any of those alternatives much
better than A 1 , A 2 , A 3 , or A 4 .
So, inasmuch as this represents the intuitions we actually have regarding
what outcome is better, our intuitions regarding what option is better
when we consider pairs of alternatives in the spectrum are not transitive.
Th e question here is whether they are also, for this reason, inconsistent.
Th is will be so if the “_ is better than _” relation needs to be transitive. In
that case, if we want to have rational preferences we will be forced to abandon
some of the preferences we actually have for some alternatives instead
of others. If, instead, Rachels’ and Temkin’s argument is right, it is perfectly
consistent to have such preferences. We just need to give up the idea that
they need to be transitive.
3. Are spectrum cases only problematic for those
who defend transitivity?
we might think that the claim that the “_ is better than _” relation is intransitive,
although unpalatable, at least gives us a solution to the challenge that
spectrum cases pose. However, this is not quite so. Accepting such a claim
does not solve the challenges spectrum cases pose. For sure, it may provide
us with more intuitive solutions at some points. Suppose we had to choose
between A 1 and A n . A staunch defender of the transitivity of the “_ is better
than _” relation would have to say that, because one would consider A 1 to
be better than A 2 , A 2 to be better than A 3 ... and A n-1 to be better than A n ,
one should also consider that A 1 is better than A n . Instead, a defender of
the intransitivity would be free to choose A n over A 1 . Th is may be a reason
Diacritica 25-2_Filosofia.indb 128 05-01-2012 09:38:25