Harsanyi's aggregation theorem without selfish preferences (Q1079466)

This paper generalizes Harsanyi's theorem on von Neumann-Morgenstern utilities [see \textit{J. C. Harsanyi}, J. Polit. Econ., 309-321 (1955)]. It proves this theorem without the rather restrictive assumption that individuals have selfish preferences (in a sense to be defined below). It also argues that this theorem is of limited use in providing an argument for either average utilitarianism or for arriving at interpersonal comparisons of utility - at least if utilitarianism and interpersonal comparisons are to have any distinctive content.