We use a set theoretic approach to consensus by viewing an object as a set of smaller pieces called “bricks”. A consensus function is neutral if there exists a family D of sets such that a brick s is in the output of a profile if and only if the set of positions with objects that contain s belongs to D. We give sufficient set theoretic conditions for D to be a lattice filter and, in the case of a finite lattice, these conditions turn out to be necessary. Ourfinal result, which involves a finite...