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How not to derive ‘ought’ from ‘is’

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Part of the book series: Controversies in Philosophy ((COIPHIL))

Abstract

Two of the steps in Mr Searle’s derivation1 are from:

  1. (3)

    Jones placed himself under (undertook) an obligation to pay Smith five dollars, to:

  2. (4)

    Jones is under an obligation to pay Smith five dollars, and from that to:

  3. (5)

    Jones ought to pay Smith five dollars.

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W. D. Hudson

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© 1969 Macmillan Publishers Limited

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Thomson, J., Thomson, J. (1969). How not to derive ‘ought’ from ‘is’. In: Hudson, W.D. (eds) The Is-Ought Question. Controversies in Philosophy. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-15336-7_17

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