in the theory of value and prices.

89

the rate of passing from one locus to the next along a line of forceshall for all positions between the two loci be inversely proportionalto the value of v U, already assigned to these positions. If v U, isnot distributed in the above manner integration is impossible andthere is no such quantity as total utility or gain.

§7-

Even if the integration were possible there would still be an arbi-trary constant. We could even claim that total disutility exceedstotal utility and all man can do is to minimize the disagreeable in-stead of maximize the agreeable. In other words, if we embracehedonism, there is nothing in economic investigation to cause us tochoose between optimism and pessimism.

§8.

Thus if we seek only the causation of the objective facts of pricesand commodity distribution four attributes of utility as a quantityare entirely unessential, (1) that one man’s utility can be compared toanother’s, (2) that for the same individual the marginal utilities atone consumption-combination can be compared with those at another,or at one time with another, (3) even if they could, total utility andgain might not be integratable, (4) even if they were, there wouldbe no need of determining the constants of integration.

End of Part II.