I examine the once popular claim according to which interpersonal comparisons of welfare are necessary for social choice. I side with current social choice theorists in emphasizing that, on a narrow construal, this necessity claim is refuted beyond appeal. However, I depart from the opinion presently prevailing in social choice theory in highlighting that on a broader construal, this claim proves not only compatible with, but even comforted by, the current state of the field. I submit that all in all, the most accurate philosophical assessment consists not in flatly rejecting this necessity claim, but in accepting it in a suitably revised form.

中文翻译：

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人际比较什么？

我研究了曾经流行的说法，即福利的人际比较对于社会选择是必要的。我站在当前的社会选择理论家一边强调，在狭义的解释中，这种必然性主张被驳斥得无可厚非。然而，我偏离了目前社会选择理论中盛行的观点，强调在更广泛的解释中，这一主张证明不仅与该领域的现状相容，甚至可以从该领域的现状中得到安慰。我认为，总而言之，最准确的哲学评估不在于断然拒绝这种必然性主张，而在于以适当修改的形式接受它。