Infinitism about Cross-Domain Conflict

Chapter 7 argues that if the overriding view is true, then infinitism about cross-domain conflict is true. The overriding view is the view that (i) there are multiple normative domains (including, e.g., the domains of morality and prudence), (ii) normative domains can come into conflict with one another, and (iii) in some such conflicts, an obligation belonging to one normative domain overrides an obligation belonging to another normative domain. Infinitism about cross-domain conflict contains two main claims. First claim: There is at least one case in which an agent has an obligation OA that belongs to domain DA, and an obligation OB that belongs to domain DB (where DA and DB are different domains), and OA overrides OB. Second claim: For every such case, there is an infinitely long chain of domains D1, D2, D3,…, such that D1 contains an obligation to act in line with the obligations of DA, and D2 contains an obligation to act in line with the obligations of D1, and D3 contains an obligation to act in line with the obligations of D2, and so on, indefinitely.