Strength of preference and cardinal utility (Q2580970)

Axiomatic definitions of the difference relation are considered implying the existence of a utility function which is compatible with the underlying preference relation and represents the difference relation. The proposed axiomatics provide the most general representation of cardinal utility. The other known theorems follow as corollaries of the result proved in the present paper. Whether utility is ordinal or cardinal depends on underlying axiomatics which can be debated. However, the present paper is not arguing for either ordinal or cardinal utility. It concentrates on mathematical aspects showing how earlier derivations of cardinal utility can be simplified.