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In the context of an absolute ranking system, the choice is to act towards the higher-ranked want vs the lower-ranked want, so the resolution is simple: the higher-ranked wins. If one values completion over incompleteness, then one can prioritize that want over all (or many) others.

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This, uhhh, this seems like a good argument against using an absolute ranking system. Suppose you want to eat and have money. If you rank eating first, you'd be willing to pay a million dollars for a can of tuna. If you rank money first, you'd be willing to starve to death so long as someone offered you a single dollar.

Yes, ranked wants with artificially restricted phrasing have exactly this problem you describe.

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