[ikeboy]

We're not talking about you accepting a dust mite in any of the scenarios. It's always other people.

So saying that you are selfish doesn't get you out of this, as long as you do prefer the world with less other people having specks.

Where is there a discontinuity when talking about other people being tortured or specked?

[kybernetikos]

I know that that is the formulation of the question, But since you're asking me to make the choice, you're asking me to inflict suffering on many extra people who would not have suffered otherwise. If what is gained by their suffering is large enough compared to that suffering that I believe they all (or nearly all) would have chosen voluntarily to accept the suffering for the benefit, then I am happy with the choice, and my best model for that is what suffering I would be prepared to undergo for what benefit. I think the confusion is between evaluating the utility between two possible alternatives (where obviously the world with fewer people suffering is better) vs evaluating the utility between two possible alternatives where those were the only two alternatives. If it's just two of many alternatives, the utility placed on a meaningful sacrifice doesn't come into it, but if it's a choice, the utility placed on a meaningful sacrifice does.