In favor of impossible obligations
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62876/lr.vi039.5027Keywords:
Impossible obligations, ought implies can, action guidance, deliberation , alternativesAbstract
In this paper, I present a defense of impossible obligations against the
argument according to which these types of obligations are pointless or
nonsensical because they do not comply with the basic action guidance function
of an obligation. I attempt to show that the action-guidance function of
obligations, together with the ‘ought implies can’ maxim, lead to undesirable
consequences, and this result casts doubt on the argument against impossible
obligations. Also, I provide an argument attempting to defend that impossible
obligations are in a better position to guide certain actions than traditional
obligations.
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