This chapter derives the standardized total principle for valuing distributions that contain different numbers of people. It explains that this principle is total utilitarianism, when total utilitarianism is understood in the only way that makes good sense. It is also often called ‘critical-level utilitarianism’. It considers the neutral level for existence, then responds to some objections to total utilitarianism, in particular the repugnant conclusion.
Keywords: repugnant conclusion, total utilitarianism, neutral level, critical-level utilitarianism