Abstract
A possible world semantics for preference is developed. The remainder operator (⊥) is used to give precision to the notion that two states of the world are as similar as possible, given a specified difference between them. A general structure is introduced for preference relations between states of affairs, and three types of such preference relations are defined. It is argued that one of them, “actual preference”, corresponds closely to the concept of preference in informal discourse. Its logical properties are studied and shown to be plausible.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ackermann, Robert: 1967, ‘Comments on N. Rescher's ‘Semantic Foundations for the Logic of Preference’’, in Nicholas Rescher (ed.),The Logic of Decision and Action, pp. 71–76.
Alchourrón, Carlos E. and David Makinson: 1981, ‘Hierarchies of Regulations and Their Logic’, in Risto Hilpinen (ed.),New Studies in Deontic Logic, pp. 125–48.
Alchourrón, Carlos E., Peter Gärdenfors and David Makinson: 1985, ‘On the Logic of Theory Change: Partial Meet Contraction and Revision Functions’,Journal of Symbolic Logic 50, 510–30.
Åqvist, Lennart: 1963, ‘Deontic Logic Based on a Logic of ‘Better’’,Acta Philosophica Fennica 16, 285–89.
Åqvist, Lennart: 1968, ‘Chisholm-Sosa Logics of Intrinsic Betterness and Value’,Noûs 2, 253–70.
Brogan, Albert P.: 1919, ‘The Fundamental Value Universal’,Journal of Philosophy, Psychology and Scientific Methods 16, 96–104.
Castaneda, Hector Neri: 1958, Review of Halldén (1956),Philosophy and Phenomenological Research 19, 266.
Chisholm, Roderick M.: 1975, ‘The Intrinsic Value in Disjunctive States of Affairs’,Noûs 9, 295–308.
Chisholm, Roderick M. and Ernest Sosa: 1966a, ‘On the Logic of ‘Intrinsically Better’’,American Philosophical Quarterly 3, 244–49.
Chisholm, Roderick M. and Ernest Sosa: 1966b, ‘Intrinsic Preferability and the Problem of Supererogation’,Synthese 16, 321–31.
Cresswell, M. J.: 1971, ‘A Semantics for a Logic of ‘Better’’,Logique et Analyse 14, 775–82.
von Dalen, Dirk: 1974, ‘Variants of Rescher's Semantics for Preference Logic and Some Completeness Theorems’,Studia Logica 33, 163–81.
Danielsson, Sven: 1968,Preference and Obligation, Filosofisha föreningen, Uppsala.
Freeman, James B.: 1972, ‘Fairness and the Value of Disjunctive Actions’,Philosophical Studies 24, 105–11.
Halldén, Sören: 1957,On the Logic of Better, Library of Theoria 2, Lund.
Hansson, Bengt: 1968, ‘Fundamental Axioms for Preference Relations’,Synthese 18, 423–42.
Jennings, R. E.: 1967, ‘Preference and Choice as Logical Correlates’,Mind 76, 556–67.
Kanger, Stig: 1968, ‘Preferenslogik’, inNio filosofiska studier tillägnade Konrad Marc-Wogau, pp. 1–13.
von Kutschera, Franz: 1975, ‘Semantic Analyses of Normative Concepts’,Erkenntnis 9, 195–218.
Lee, Richard: 1984, ‘Preference and Transitivity’,Analysis 44, 129–34.
Martin, Richard M.: 1962,Intension and Decision, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.
Mullen, John D.: 1979, ‘Does the Logic of Preference Rest on a Mistake?’,Metaphilosophy 10, 247–55.
Quinn, Philip L.: 1976, ‘Improved Foundations for a Logic of Intrinsic Value’,Philosophical Studies 32, 73–81.
Rescher, Nicholas: 1967, ‘Semantic Foundations for the Logic of Preference’, in Nicholas Rescher (ed.),The Logic of Decision and Action, pp. 37–62.
Saito, Setsuo: 1973, ‘Modality and Preference Relation’,Notre Dame Journal of Formal Logic 14, 387–91.
Sen, Amartya K.: 1970,Collective Choice and Social Welfare, Mathematical Economics Texts, San Francisco.
Trapp, Rainer W.: 1985, ‘Utility Theory and Preference Logic’,Erkenntnis 22, 301–39.
Willing, Anthony: 1976, ‘A Note on Rescher's ‘Semantic Foundations for the Logic of Preference’’,Theory and Decision 7, 221–29.
von Wright, Georg Henrik: 1963,The Logic of Preference, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh.
von Wright, Georg Henrik: 1972, ‘The Logic of Preference Reconsidered’,Theory and Decision 3, 140–69.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hansson, S.O. A new semantical approach to the logic of preference. Erkenntnis 31, 1–42 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01239128
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01239128