The Possibility of a Paretian Liberal: Impossibility Theorems and Cardinal Utility.

In the present stage ot the discussion on the problem of social choice, it should be common knowledge that the General Impossibility Theorem holds because only the ordinal preferences is or can be taken into account. If the intensity of preference or cardinal utility[4] can be known or is reflected in social choice, the paradox of social choice can be solved (cf. Kemp and Asimakopulos 1952; Coleman 1966; Mueller 1967). I hasten to add that cardinal utility as used here subsumes some sort of interpersonal comparison. The problem of social choice is to formulate a social preference or choice function from those of the preferences of various individuals. Thus, if there is no way to compare the preference intensities among the individuals, the knowledge of these intensities alone gives little help.[5] However, it is difficult to know and compare the preference intensities of different individuals. Liberalism may be regarded as a partial solution to the problem of social choice in view of these difficulties. Thus, whether you sleep on your back or belly is a matter in which you. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]