Academic

Owens on Rationalism & Obligation

By Lawrence Solum

David Owens (University of Sheffield) has posted Rationalism About Obligation on SSRN.  Here is the abstract:

This paper considers whether having an obligation to do something involves having a special kind of reason to do it. I focus on those obligations which arise from the exercise of normative powers e.g. commands and promises. Various theories of obligation are examined, particularly that of Joseph Raz. I conclude that rationalism fails, at least with respect to promissory obligation.

Full post as published by Legal Theory Blog on August 07, 2008 (boomark / email).