>Heitzig: Warren seems to insist that for some reason the Archimedean property >is essential, but he doesn't tell why. Without it, you can still sum up utilities and do all kinds of arithmetics with them, so why should we care about that property?
--I didn't insist it was essential. I merley claimed I agreed with it and I also clamed you did too (you just pretended not to). I happen therefore to believe in utilties and without any need to adjoin infinitesimals to the real numbers. Heitzig is a member of what I thought was an extinct species - mathematically educated people denying the existence of utility. However I now see he has progressed and now agrees utilities exist as long as you extend the real numbers appropriately. That is progress, I guess. As Forest said: "If the purpose of the trip is not infinitely valuable compared to the value of one cent, then don't do it." I guess Heitzig agrees with that. Whatever. Warren D Smith http://rangevoting.org ---- election-methods mailing list - see http://electorama.com/em for list info
