In this accessible yet throught-provoking work, Lisa Tessman takes us through gripping examples of the impossible demands of morality -- some epic, and others quotidian -- whose central predicament is: How do we make decisions when morality demands we do something that we cannot?

Introduction Chapter 1: Are There Moral Dilemmas? Chapter 2. Negotiable and Non-Negotiable Moral Requirements Chapter 3. How Do We Make Moral Judgments? Chapter 4. The Experience of Requirement Chapter 5. Love and the Unthinkable Chapter 6. Sacred Values Chapter 7. Constructing Morality Conclusion

"Lisa Tessman reaches an even more challenging conclusion which she gives away in the title of her lucid and thoughtful new book, When Doing the Right Thing Is Impossible." -- Julian Baggini, Times Literary Supplement "This clearly written book brings to a broad audience Lisa Tessman's humane, probing, and provocative thought about our shared moral condition and the multiple ways that we will struggle with moral failure. Using concrete and relevant examples, Tessman explores the pervasive and universal ways morality poses challenges none of us is likely to meet fully or successfully. A rich platform for real conversations and debates about what we expect of ourselves and the role of morality in our lives--a great choice for ethics courses and for nonphilosophers." -- Margaret Urban Walker, Professor and Donald J. Schuenke Chair in Philosophy, Marquette University "Professor Lisa Tessman has written a thought-provoking defense of a demanding position we should take seriously, that for any of us moral wrongdoing may sometimes be unavoidable. Through compelling examples, careful argument and responses to important objections, Tessman has made a strong case for thinking there may be circumstances when we are forced to violate values we rightly hold to be inviolable." -- Christopher Gowans, Professor of Philosophy, Fordham University "In this engaging and clear-sighted book, Tessman illustrates her thesis, that 'ought' implies 'can' in some but not all cases, with vivid examples of moral conflicts drawn from everyday life. Tessman shows and explains the various ways in which 'ought' may or may not hold only for what is possible with clear and persuasive arguments and examples, and by incorporating themes from some of the most interesting works in the psychology of thinking and judging. Introducing students, especially beginning students, to these works and showing their importance for philosophy generally and ethics in particular is yet another signal achievement of Tessman's excellent book." -- Michael Stocker, Professor Emeritus, Syracuse "Well written and accessible to all audiences..." --Library Journal "Provocative, tightly argued, and thoroughly original, this is a wonderful resource for everyone interested in the subject of morality." --Choice "Tessman uses many real and engaging examples throughout this book, which is aimed at a general audience with little or no background in philosophy. This book is not overtly a feminist book; rather, it is about normative ethics and its demands. Crucially, it is mainly about what does and should motivate moral action, which of course has implications for feminists, especially given the feminist debates about whether moral action should be motivated by reason or care." -- Hypatia

Selling point: Argues, contrary to what most moral philosophers believe, that there are situations in which doing the morally right thing is impossible Selling point: Draws on philosophy, empirical psychology, and evolutionary theory Selling point: Investigates how and why human beings construct morality Selling point: Includes real world examples, such as the story of the crisis that arose at Memorial Medical Center during Hurricane Katrina

Lisa Tessman is Professor of Philosophy at Binghamton University. She teaches and does research in ethics, moral psychology, feminist philosophy, and related areas. Her work focuses on understanding how real human beings construct morality and experience moral demands, especially under difficult conditions. She is the author of Burdened Virtues: Virtue Ethics for Liberatory Struggles (OUP, 2005), and Moral Failure: On the Impossible Demands of Morality (OUP, 2015).

Selling point: Argues, contrary to what most moral philosophers believe, that there are situations in which doing the morally right thing is impossible Selling point: Draws on philosophy, empirical psychology, and evolutionary theory Selling point: Investigates how and why human beings construct morality Selling point: Includes real world examples, such as the story of the crisis that arose at Memorial Medical Center during Hurricane Katrina