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    The 'ought implies can' principle entails only that the h... — Carmelics
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    Challenges→A moral agent must postulate the existence of God as a rational presupposition of the moral life.

    The 'ought implies can' principle entails only that the highest good must be possible, not that any particular agent must believe it is achievable.

    ?Rate how convincing each reason is below to see the overall strength.
    1 reason for
    1 reason against

    Reasons For

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    Reason for
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    • 1.Moral principles must apply universally; not all agents have equal capacities, so obligations cannot depend on individual beliefs.
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    • 2.'Ought' prescribes what is objectively required, while 'can' constrains only what is metaphysically possible, not psychologically apparent.
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    • 3.If duties required individual belief in achievability, moral systems would collapse into relativism based on subjective confidence levels.
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    Reasons Against

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    Reason against
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    • 1.Practical normativity requires agents to guide their actions; moral demands disconnected from perceived possibility are motivationally inert.
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    • 2.The principle's purpose is to protect agents from impossible demands; ignoring subjective impossibility defeats this protective function entirely.
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    • 3.An agent cannot rationally 'ought' to pursue what they cannot even conceive as achievable, making the distinction between objective and believed possibility false.
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    Natural Theology1 linkedDivine Attributes1 linked

    Related

    'Ought' prescribes what is objectively required, while 'can' constrains only wha...A moral agent must postulate the existence of God as a rational presupposition o...An agent cannot rationally 'ought' to pursue what they cannot even conceive as a...If duties required individual belief in achievability, moral systems would colla...
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    Moral principles must apply universally; not all agents have equal capacities, s...Practical normativity requires agents to guide their actions; moral demands disc...The principle's purpose is to protect agents from impossible demands; ignoring s...

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    Perspectives
    2 (1 for, 1 against)
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