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Full Idea
The 'remainder' after a dilemma can't be a matter of apology and restitution, because the dilemma may only involve the agent's own life, and in the case of broken promises we only owe an explanation, if the breaking is justifiable.
Gist of Idea
There is no restitution after a dilemma, if it only involved the agent, or just needed an explanation
Source
report of Philippa Foot (Moral Dilemmas Revisited [1995], p.183) by PG - Db (ideas)
Book Ref
Foot,Philippa: 'Moral Dilemmas' [OUP 2002], p.183
A Reaction
But what if someone has been financially ruined by it? If the agent feels guilty about that, is getting over it the rational thing to do? (Foot says that is an new obligation, and not part of the original dilemma).
5212 | A man should sooner die than do some dreadful things, no matter how cruel the death [Aristotle] |
21103 | Moral questions can only be decided by common opinion [Hume] |
22481 | There is no restitution after a dilemma, if it only involved the agent, or just needed an explanation [Foot, by PG] |
22482 | I can't understand how someone can be necessarily wrong whatever he does [Foot] |
22455 | Many ethical theories neglect the power of regretting the ought not acted upon [Williams,B] |
4656 | A problem arises in any moral system that allows more than one absolute right [Glover] |
4329 | After a moral dilemma is resolved there is still a 'remainder', requiring (say) regret [Hursthouse] |
4330 | Deontologists resolve moral dilemmas by saying the rule conflict is merely apparent [Hursthouse] |
4341 | Involuntary actions performed in tragic dilemmas are bad because they mar a good life [Hursthouse] |
4340 | You are not a dishonest person if a tragic dilemma forces you to do something dishonest [Hursthouse] |
20877 | Errors in moral practice might be inconsistent or inappropriate principles, or inappropriate application [LaFollette] |
20878 | We can discuss the criteria of a judgment, or the weight given to them, or their application [LaFollette] |