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

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7. Conclusions
OSCAR HORTA
Spectrum cases such as the one we have seen here challenge the idea that
the “_ is better than _” relation is transitive. But they also raise puzzles
that are equally challenging for defenders of the idea that such relation is
intransitive, such as the question of what is the best option available within
the spectrum. Th e diff erent responses we may give to this problem do not
depend on whether we accept or reject transitivity. Rather, they depend on
several other factors.
Th ose who assume that betterness needs to be transitive need not agree
regarding what is the best option in the spectrum case. It may be assumed
at fi rst sight that the latter need to accept that A 1 is the best solution. But in
order to accept this, there are other assumptions they need to hold. Th ey
need to assume that the minimization of the duration of pain and the minimization
of the intensity of pain are two principles that must be taken into
account without any of them having lexical priority over the other one (or
that quantity of pain has lexically priority). Moreover: they need to assume
we have to stick to those principles even if we have intuitions towards particular
outcomes that are at odds with that. But some of those who defend
the transitivity of the “_ is better than _” relation may disagree with that.
Th ey may have a diff erent view regarding what are the principles we may
consider and what is the way in which we should consider them. Accordingly,
they may defend other solutions to the problem of what is the best
option in the spectrum.
Something similar happens in the case of those who reject that the “_
is better than _” relation is transitive. We may think that those who defend
this would be more likely to assume a particularist view. But this is not
necessarily so. Th ey may not accept particularism. In fact, they may accept
general principles and claim that we get to intransitive sets of outcomes
with respect to betterness when those outcomes can be evaluated according
to diff erent principles. Moreover, as we have seen, those who accept the
particularist view have diff erent views regarding the problem at stake here.
All this seems to undermine, if only to some extent, the strength of the
challenge that spectrum cases pose to the idea that transitivity must apply
in axiology.
Diacritica 25-2_Filosofia.indb 138 05-01-2012 09:38:26