ABSTRACT
One important concept of obligation is logically tied to the concepts of an institution and a rule. The distinction between prescriptive and descriptive obligation-statements leads to recognize a related distinction between tentative and determinative obligations. This chapter considers how the Principle of Categorial Consistency (PCC's) criteria of moral obligation are to be applied in ascertaining whether an institution's obligations are determinative of what men ought to do. The application of the PCC to test the moral justification of institutions may be made from two different perspectives: from that of the institution as agent and from that of the persons who participate in the institution as agents. Political and legal obligation coincide insofar as the former is the obligation to obey the government or the legitimate political authority; for since this authority rests on law and operates through laws, obedience to the authority is also obedience to law.
