[rjrodger]

Is this not equivalent to medical triage? Those who will die anyway, and those who will live anyway, get no immediate treatment (apart from morphine). Those who will not survive without treatment, get the resources.

Thus: move to the city, as the gifted child will most likely do just fine in life. Have dinner with the depressed friend, because the happy friend will enjoy the concert anyway.

Seems perfectly consistent with even simplistic utilitarianism.

[visarga]

Maybe the gifted teenager by getting priority early on would be able to better support his brother later in life. Parents aren't going to be around in old age.

[michaelt]

> Have dinner with the depressed friend [...] Seems perfectly consistent with even simplistic utilitarianism.

Well, the problem is specifically stated as the concert having higher total utility.

[DarylZero]

> move to the city, as the gifted child will most likely do just fine in life

Why would you make this assumption though.