The Doctrine of Illicit Intentions

Philosophy and Public Affairs, 2006

29 Pages Posted: 25 Jan 2010

See all articles by Alec D. Walen

Alec D. Walen

Rutgers School of Law; Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey - Department of Philosophy

Date Written: January 22, 2006

Abstract

According to the Doctrine of Illicit Intentions, it is impermissible both to form and then to act on an illicit intention. An intention is illicit, roughly, if it causes the agent who has it to be, in a certain way, disposed to perform actions that are impermissible. If the range of actions an agent might be directed to perform by an intention includes impermissible actions, then it may be impermissible to form or act on that intention even if, in the end, the agent performs no action that is impermissible (other than forming and acting on an illicit intention itself).

Keywords: Intentions, Permissibility

Suggested Citation

Walen, Alec D. and Walen, Alec D., The Doctrine of Illicit Intentions (January 22, 2006). Philosophy and Public Affairs, 2006, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1540916

Alec D. Walen (Contact Author)

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey - Department of Philosophy ( email )

106 Somerset St
5th Floor
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
United States

Rutgers School of Law ( email )

217 North 5th Street
Camden, NJ 08102
United States

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