The “can” in Line 2 refers to logical possibility.
At least, I think that’s that’s true of Kant’s “ought implies can” principle.
The “can” in Line 1 refers to physical possibility.
The argument is sound only if the two “can”s refer to the same modality.
You could replaced the “can” in Line 1 with logical possibility, and then the argument would be valid. The view that whatever can logically be done actually is done is called Necessitarianism. It’s pretty fringe.
Alternatively, you could replace the “can” in Line 2 with physical possibility, and then the argument would be valid. I don’t know if that view has a name, it seems pretty implausible.
No I think Kant’s “ought implies can” principle usually uses “can” to mean some kind of “practical possibility” that means “possible given your powers and opportunities” or something. And whatever is possible in that sense is also physically possible (i.e. “possible given the actual state of the world and physical laws”). So the argument is still sound.
hmm, I think the argument isn’t valid:
The “can” in Line 2 refers to logical possibility.
At least, I think that’s that’s true of Kant’s “ought implies can” principle.
The “can” in Line 1 refers to physical possibility.
The argument is sound only if the two “can”s refer to the same modality.
You could replaced the “can” in Line 1 with logical possibility, and then the argument would be valid. The view that whatever can logically be done actually is done is called Necessitarianism. It’s pretty fringe.
Alternatively, you could replace the “can” in Line 2 with physical possibility, and then the argument would be valid. I don’t know if that view has a name, it seems pretty implausible.
No I think Kant’s “ought implies can” principle usually uses “can” to mean some kind of “practical possibility” that means “possible given your powers and opportunities” or something. And whatever is possible in that sense is also physically possible (i.e. “possible given the actual state of the world and physical laws”). So the argument is still sound.