{
  "id": 76431,
  "title": "On infinite ethics",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/03/on-infinite-ethics",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-03T07:11:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Marginal Revolution",
    "slug": "marginal-revolution",
    "url": "https://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2026/08/on-infinite-ethics.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Infinite numbers have long perplexed utilitarian ethicists: when dealing with an infinite universe, the existence of infinite positive utility and infinite negative utility presents a challenge. Even defining our current state becomes an uphill battle in such a scenario. Oxford philosopher Toby Ord offers a potential solution through the use of hyperreal numbers, a mathematical concept where infinite sums behave more like finite ones. For instance, the sum of infinitely many twos is twice the sum of infinitely many ones. While this solution addresses certain issues, it also introduces new complexities, such as the need to choose an \"ultrafilter\" to pinpoint certain hyperreals, a choice that is not straightforward. Nonetheless, Elias Schmied views this as a significant philosophical breakthrough, making genuine progress in a seemingly insurmountable problem. The author wonders why we didn't consider this approach in the first place, instead of accepting the conventional notion that infinity plus infinity equals infinity.",
  "summary": "Infinite numbers have long troubled utilitarian ethicists: if the universe is boundless, then there is infinite positive utility and infinite negative utility, and we can’t even define our current state, let alone affect it. Oxford philosopher Toby Ord proposes a solution: use hyperreal numbers, a mathematical construct in which infinite sums behave more like finite ones (for example, […] The…",
  "key_points": [
    "Oxford philosopher Toby Ord proposes using hyperreal numbers to address infinite ethics challenges.",
    "Hyperreal numbers allow infinite sums to behave more like finite ones in utilitarian ethics.",
    "Elias Schmied views this hyperreal approach as a significant philosophical breakthrough."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": "https://urgent.news/ill/76431.png",
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}