Q&A: The ought-is fallacy in Leviticus 18:8?
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
The ought-is fallacy in Leviticus 18:8?
Question
Hi,
“Do not uncover the nakedness of your father’s wife; it is your father’s nakedness.”
Is the second half of the verse a justification for the first half? If not—what does it mean? And if so, how do you derive a norm from a fact?
Answer
Yes, it is a justification. I didn’t understand the question. It’s like when someone tells you that it’s forbidden to hit because it hurts. There is always a normative assumption in the background. Here they are simply explaining why there is a problem at all, since she is not your relative. They are saying that this is like harming your father.