How much can we ask of collective agents?

Journal article


Collins, Stephanie. (2020). How much can we ask of collective agents? Canadian Journal of Philosophy. 50(7), pp. 815-831. https://doi.org/10.1017/can.2020.42
AuthorsCollins, Stephanie
Abstract

Are obligations of collective agents—such as states, businesses, and non-profits—ever overdemanding? I argue they are not. I consider two seemingly attractive routes to collective overdemandingness: that an obligation is overdemanding on a collective just if the performance would be overdemanding for members; and that an obligation is overdemanding on a collective just if the performance would frustrate the collective’s permissible deep preferences. I reject these. Instead, collective overdemandingness complaints should be reinterpreted as complaints about inability or third-party costs. These are not the same as overdemandingness. Accordingly, we can ask an awful lot of collective agents.

Keywordscollective agency; collective obligation; overdemandingness; ought implies can
Year2020
JournalCanadian Journal of Philosophy
Journal citation50 (7), pp. 815-831
PublisherCanadian Journal of Philosophy
ISSN0045-5091
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1017/can.2020.42
Scopus EID2-s2.0-85096301822
Research or scholarlyResearch
Page range815-831
FunderAustralian Research Council (ARC)
Publisher's version
License
All rights reserved
File Access Level
Controlled
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online13 Nov 2020
Publication process dates
Deposited06 Aug 2021
ARC Funded ResearchThis output has been funded, wholly or partially, under the Australian Research Council Act 2001
Grant IDARC/DE200101413
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