1. Ethics and Values for Professionals WD Ross – Prima Facie Deontology
Chapter 4: Part II
WD Ross – Prima Facie Deontology
Prepared by: Roger Nault

2. W.D. Ross: 1877-1971 The Right and the Good (1930)
Chapter 4: Deontological Ethics ​
W.D. Ross:
The Right and the Good (1930) 2

3. Prima Facie Deontology:
Chapter 4: Deontological Ethics ​
Prima Facie Deontology:
Agrees with Utilitarians that consequences matter when applying morals but rejected the premise that only pleasure has intrinsic moral value.
Ross placed value in not only future-looking duties but also in those arising from the past as well as on-going duties.
Disagreed with Kant who described duties as absolute – introduces prima facie duties 3

4. Prima Facie Deontology:
Chapter 4: Deontological Ethics ​
Prima Facie Deontology:
Prima facie duties are moral duties that may on occasion be overridden by stronger moral claims – potential duties. 4

5. Prima Facie Deontology:
Chapter 4: Deontological Ethics ​
Prima Facie Deontology:
Ross identified 7 prima facie moral duties which he claimed that we intuitively know:
Future-looking duties
Duties based on past obligations
On-going duties 5

6. Prima Facie Deontology: Future-looking Duties:
Chapter 4: Deontological Ethics ​
Prima Facie Deontology:
Future-looking Duties:
Beneficence – duty to help others,
Nonmaleficence
duty to not do harm (not to create new harm)
prevent possible harm and reducing existing suffering (harm). 6

7. Prima Facie Deontology: Duties based on Past Obligations:
Chapter 4: Deontological Ethics ​
Prima Facie Deontology:
Duties based on Past Obligations:
Fidelity duties from past commitments:
within voluntary contexts – keep promises
within non-voluntary contexts – be loyal.
Philosophers debate which duty is the strongest. 7

8. Prima Facie Deontology: Duties based on Past Obligations:
Chapter 4: Deontological Ethics ​
Prima Facie Deontology:
Duties based on Past Obligations:
Reparation – duties to “balance” past harms. Fault requires the duty of reparation (aka restitution but does not incl. retribution which will be discussed later). 8

9. Prima Facie Deontology: Duties based on Past Obligations:
Chapter 4: Deontological Ethics ​
Prima Facie Deontology:
Duties based on Past Obligations:
Gratitude – duties from past unearned favours; esp. amongst equals.
Maintain balance – return a favour in proportion to the original.
Asymmetry in favours creates perpetual obligation which is said to be dehumanizing. 9

10. Prima Facie Deontology: On-going Duties:
Chapter 4: Deontological Ethics ​
Prima Facie Deontology:
On-going Duties:
Self-improvement – to continually improve our knowledge and virtue.
In Buddhism continuous self-improvement through right living and right thinking is the only way to reach moral excellence.
Justice – to give each person equal consideration. 10