What is meant by the phrase Ought implies can
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What is meant by the phrase 'Ought implies can'?
In literal meaning, 'ought' and 'can' have similar meanings with distinct difference. 'Ought' means 'must', 'should', 'is obliged to do (something)' It means that someone is morally expected, morally obliged to do something. He has the ability to do it and due to various possible reasons, he bears the duty to do so. It carries a heavy deontological element- for example when we are said to 'ought' to help those who are suffering from famine, it is our duty to assist them. If we don't help, it is almost equivalent to being ignorant- which is being immoral, because we choose not to do things that we morally should do. Therefore we are morally responsible for whatever the outcome of our ignorance is. Here, we assume that the duty as stated above is to do with morality.
However, if 'ought' carries duty element from external forces like violence and not morality, when someone makes a moral action that he ought to do under violence, he is not morally responsible for his actions. Even if he does something wrong, he is not blameworthy; if he does something morally good, he is not praiseworthy- because he does it not under free will- but external forces which determine his choices and therefore actions...