Dilemmas, Teleology, and Incomparable Value

Sometimes, it may seem that an agent faces an obligation dilemma—a situation in which they cannot fulfill their obligations no matter what they do. However, there are at least three problems for any theory that embraces obligation dilemmas. The logical problem arises from a conflict between obligation dilemmas and venerable principles of deontic logic. The teleological problem arises from a conflict between obligation dilemmas and the compelling thought that an agent is obligated to do what would be best. And the practical problem arises from a conflict between believing that one faces an obligation dilemma and making a coherent choice. In this essay, I argue that these problems can be solved.