It seems natural to think that Dehqan-e Fadakar did something beyond his duty. But this judgment requires explanation. How come there are most reasons for an action and thus it is praiseworthy, but it is not obligatory? Discussions about supererogation start with this question but go further beyond that. In this short note for Farsi readers, I mention some aspects of the problem of supererogation. Furthermore, I also mention “The Cautionary Account of Supererogation” recently proposed based on the ethical work of Miskawayh (d. 1030). So, I discuss the importance of the problem and mention some neglected resources for further explanation.
Crisp, R. (2013). ‘Supererogation and Virtue’, in R. Shafer-Landau (ed.) Oxford Studies in Normative Ethics, vol 3, 13-34. Oxford: OUP.
Eslami, S. M. and A. Archer (2024) “The Cautionary Account of Supererogation”, Philosophical Quarterly.
Ferry, M. (2013) ‘Does Morality Demand Our Very Best? Moral Prescriptions and the Line of Duty’, Philosophical Studies 165/2: 573-589.
Gert, J. (2003) ‘Requiring and justifying: Two dimensions of normative strength’, Erkenntnis 59 (1): 5 – 36.
Gert, J. (2013) ‘Overridingness, Moral’, in H. LaFollette (ed.) The International Encyclopedia of Ethics. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781444367072.wbiee010
Hajighasemi, M. R. (2023) Supererogation from Ethics to Epistemology (MA Dissertation). Tarbiat Modares University. [Persian]
Heyd, D. (2015) ‘Can Virtue Ethics Account for Supererogation?’, Royal Institute of Philosophy Supplements, 77: 25-47.
Horgan, T. and M. Timmons (2010) ‘Untying a Knot from the Inside Out: Reflections on the “Paradox” of Supererogation’, Social Philosophy and Policy, 27: 29–63.
Kawall J. (2003) ‘Self-regarding supererogatory actions’, Journal of Social Philosophy 34 (3):487–498.
Miller, C. (1398) “Overview of Contemporary Metaethics and Normative Ethical Theory” [Translated from English to Farsi]. Tehran: Ansoo. [Persian]
Portmore, D. (2021) Morality and Practical Reasons. Cambridge: CUP.
Scanlon, T. (2014) Being Realistic About Reasons. Oxford: OUP.
Tusi, N. (1364) Akhlaq Nasiri. Edited by Mojtaba Minavi and Alireza Heidari. Tehran: Kharazmi. [Persian]
Urmson, J. O. (1958) ‘Saints and Heroes’ in A. Melden (ed.) Essays in Moral Philosophy, 198-216. Seattle: University of Washington Press.
Crisp R (2013). Supererogation and virtue. In: Timmons M, editor. Oxford studies in normative ethics: Volume 3. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 13-34. [Link] [DOI:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199685905.003.0002]
Eslami SM, Archer A (2024). The cautionary account of supererogation. The Philosophical Quarterly. [Link] [DOI:10.1093/pq/pqae017]
Ferry M (2013). Does morality demand our very best? On moral prescriptions and the line of duty. Philosophical Studies. 165(2):573-589. [Link] [DOI:10.1007/s11098-012-9968-6]
Gert J (2003). Requiring and justifying: Two dimensions of normative strength. Erkenntnis. 59(1):5-36. [Link] [DOI:10.1023/A:1023930108900]
Gert J (2013). Overridingness, moral. In: LaFollette H, editor. The international encyclopedia of ethics. Hoboken: Wiley-Blackwell. [Link] [DOI:10.1002/9781444367072.wbiee010]
Hajighasemi MR (2023). Supererogation from ethics to epistemology [MA dissertation]. Tehran: Tarbiat Modares University. [Persian] [Link]
Heyd D (2015). Can virtue ethics account for supererogation?. Royal Institute of Philosophy Supplements. 77:25-47. [Link] [DOI:10.1017/S1358246115000193]
Horgan T, Timmons M (2010). Untying a knot from the inside out: Reflections on the "Paradox" of supererogation. Social Philosophy and Policy. 27(2):29-63. [Link] [DOI:10.1017/S026505250999015X]
Kawall J (2003). Self-regarding supererogatory actions. Journal of Social Philosophy. 34(3):487-498. [Link] [DOI:10.1111/1467-9833.00196]
Miller C (2019). Overview of contemporary metaethics and normative ethical theory. Eslami M, translator. Tehran: Ansoo Publication. [Persian] [Link]
Portmore DW (2021). Morality and practical reasons. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. [Link] [DOI:10.1017/9781108580724]
Philosophical Thought