necessitam

Necessitam is a term used in moral philosophy and decision theory to denote a specific form of necessity that imposes a normative constraint on agents, not simply a physical or logistical constraint.

The term has Latin derivation from necessitas meaning necessity, with the suffix -am used to form a noun in some philosophical discourses. It has been used primarily in English-language texts to discuss the moral pressure or obligation that arises when outcomes are unavoidable or when duties collide.

Necessitam is characterized by three features: 1) constraint external to the agent; 2) prescriptive force that obligates action even against weaker preferences; 3) a boundary condition for moral deliberation, distinguishing it from mere practical necessity or existential inevitability.

In ethical dilemmas, necessitam helps model cases where a choice is forced to prioritize duties, such as triage scenarios, preventing greater harm, or upholding crucial commitments. It is distinct from coercion, which involves third-party pressure, whereas necessitam arises from the internal structure of duties within the agent's evaluative framework.

Some critics argue necessitam risks over-extending obligation, potentially eroding personal agency. Others contend it clarifies when duties override personal preference. There is no single consensus on its criteria or scope, and different theories offer varying accounts of what constitutes a necessitam.