Competing Duty Priority Tie Label Tool

Description

Label tie within absolute tolerance, otherwise prefer the larger supplied priority.

An explicit priority model makes a chosen ordering or tradeoff visible. Lexicographic comparison, tolerance-based ties and weighted benefit-minus-harm are different procedures; computing them does not establish their moral justification.

Label tie within absolute tolerance, otherwise prefer the larger supplied priority.

When to use this tool

Use Competing Duty Priority Tie Label when you need a transparent comparison under a supplied priority or valuation rule.

How to use the tool and how it works

Enter firstPriority, secondPriority, tolerance. Use the units and conventions below.
Run the tool. Correct any format, range, or cross-field input error before interpreting the output.
Read tie, preferred. Inspect tie before interpreting the associated values.

Require nonnegative tolerance. Label tie within absolute tolerance, otherwise prefer the larger supplied priority.^[1]

Input field	Meaning and units	Accepted input
firstPriority	First Priority	Required. Finite number.
secondPriority	Second Priority	Required. Finite number.
tolerance	Tolerance	Required. Finite number; minimum 0.

Output field	Interpretation	Returned shape
tie	Tie	Required. Boolean.
preferred	Preferred	Required. Text; maximum UTF-16 length 8192.

json

{
  "input": {
    "firstPriority": 3,
    "secondPriority": 4,
    "tolerance": 0.1
  },
  "output": {
    "tie": false,
    "preferred": "second"
  }
}

Limitations and assumptions

Priorities and tolerance share a scale. The procedure compares stated rankings rather than determining the morally correct choice or legally overriding duty.
Inputs must satisfy both the field types and the cross-field conditions above. Invalid input causes an error; a successful false flag or documented placeholder is a different result.
Numeric calculations use binary floating point unless exact decimal-integer arithmetic is explicitly stated. No hidden measurement tolerance or decimal rounding is added; nonfinite or out-of-contract results are rejected. Numeric signed-zero results are exported as zero.

Alternative or Complementary methods

Examine the reasons for the priorities and the people affected, including omitted duties and uncertainties. Use the appropriate deliberative or professional process rather than treating a numerical ranking as a complete ethical judgment.

References

Calculation and input contract: ethics/competing-duty-priority-tie-label — tool.io

Similar or alternative tools

Utility Lexicographic Priority One Pair
Compare primary values first, then secondary only on exact primary equality.
Benefit Harm Explicit Weight Sensitivity Tool
Calculate benefit harm explicit weight sensitivity from explicit caller-supplied inputs.