Introduction

The argument developed in the preceding chapter depends crucially on a distinction between instrumental and intrinsic elements in preference revelation. To the economist at least, and possibly to others, any such distinction may seem somewhat bizarre. The notion that preference revelation can be a consumption activity generating benefits in and of itself (and distinct from the benefits derived from the consumption of the object chosen) is hardly an integral part of the standard theory of consumer behavior. In that standard account, the individual chooses A over B because he prefers A over B, not because he prefers to prefer A over B: The individual is presumed to derive utility directly from the consumption of goods and services, rather than from having a particular utility function. It may well seem excessively contrived, and even rather suspicious, to invoke any such possibilities. Consequently, while intrinsic elements in preference revelation may be included for reasons of logical completeness in a purely theoretical exposition, there comes a point at which we must indicate why it is reasonable to suppose that such intrinsic elements are present and what they consist of.