On Paraconsistent Ethics

Abstract

Advances in modern logic allow us to admit that some ethical dilemmas are veridical contradictions. First, I offer two examples of such paradoxes and discuss their general form. Then the notion of paraconsistency is introduced to provide a coherent understanding of these as contradictions without lapsing into absurdity. With the groundwork in place, some features of an ethic embedded in paraconsistent logic are then shown to include a class of necessary and impossible acts called hypererogatory. Finally, some advantages of upholding such an ethic are discussed. This is a proposal to revaluate the form, rather than the content, of our normative judgements.