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Article
Moral Obligations: Actualist, Possibilist, or Hybridist?
Australasian Journal of Philosophy (2016)
  • Travis Timmerman, Seton Hall University
  • Yishai Cohen, Syracuse University
Abstract
Do facts about what an agent would freely do in certain circumstances at least partly determine any of her moral obligations? Actualists answer ‘yes’, while possibilists answer ‘no’. We defend two novel hybrid accounts that are alternatives to actualism and possibilism: Dual Obligations Hybridism and Single Obligation Hybridism. By positing two moral ‘oughts’, each account retains the benefits of actualism and possibilism, yet is immune from the prima facieproblems that face actualism and possibilism. We conclude by highlighting one substantive difference between our two hybrid accounts.
Keywords
  • hybridism,
  • actualism,
  • possibilism,
  • securitism,
  • obligations,
  • intentional control
Disciplines
Publication Date
2016
Citation Information
Travis Timmerman and Yishai Cohen. "Moral Obligations: Actualist, Possibilist, or Hybridist?" Australasian Journal of Philosophy Vol. 94 Iss. 4 (2016) p. 672 - 686
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/travis-timmerman/5/