The Obligation Dilemma
Ishtiyaque Haji
Reviews and Awards
"In his exciting and challenging new book, The Obligation Dilemma, Ishtiyaque Haji presents forceful arguments which, if correct, show that moral obligation is incompatible both with determinism and with indeterminism. Determinism plausibly would entail that we lack the kind of freedom of action that, arguably, we must have, if we have any obligations. Indeterminism plausibly would entail that we lack the kind of control over our actions that, arguably, we must have, if we have any obligations. Since our world is either deterministic or indeterministic, Haji's arguments thus seem to show that there are no moral obligations. Must we conclude that everything is permitted? This is a significant challenge to moral philosophy, and to our conception of morality as setting constraints on how we are permitted to act." - David Copp, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, University of California, Davis
"Haji makes an impressive, powerful case for the existence of a deep problem about the very possibility of moral obligation, one that resembles problems about the possibility of free will and moral responsibility but is even more challenging. This carefully argued, insightful book accords sustained critical attention to a wealth of relevant literature on obligation, free will, and moral responsibility, and it will undoubtedly motivate readers to try to develop a solution to Haji's obligation dilemma. It is an important, ground-breaking contribution to the literature." - Alfred Mele, William H. and Lucyle T. Werkmeister Professor of Philosophy, Florida State University
