By requesting something from someone, we create a reason for them to fulfill the request. On an individualistic view of human beings, this is a rather awesome power—somehow I reach into your space of reasons and create a new one.
It is tempting to downplay the force of reasons created by a request. After all, it seems that a mere request can always be legitimately turned down.
But that’s not right. There are times when a request creates an obligation. For it may be that apart form the request one’s reasons for an action were nearly conclusive, and with the request they become conclusive.
And besides that, a successfully transmitted request always creates a moral obligation to consider the request. Sometimes, the request may be quickly rejectable on the basis of a background policy. But a quick rejection still requires a consideration.
Questions, of course, are a type of request: they are a request for an answer. Thus, they too always create a moral obligation.
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