Self-torture as practical sorites

A joint School of PEP and Philosophy seminar

Further details about Dr Luke Elson can be found at:

http://www.personal.reading.ac.uk/~nj907716/

Abstract: Philosophers have argued that Warren Quinn’s Puzzle of the Self-Torturer and other ‘vague projects’ require radical revi­sions to orthodox, utility-maximising rational choice theory. I dis­agree, and argue that they are best understood as a variant of the paradox of the heap, or sorites. Orthodox decision theories may require extension to cover such cases, but not radical revision.