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Single Idea 22481

[filed under theme 20. Action / C. Motives for Action / 5. Action Dilemmas / a. Dilemmas ]

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).

The 12 ideas with the same theme [situations with conflicting motives to act]:

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]