Ross quiz study

Who was W.D. Ross?

Ross was a 20th century British philosopher known for his deontological ethics.

What ethical stance did Ross oppose?

Ross opposed consequentialism.

In what way does Ross differ from Kant regarding moral rules?

Ross believes in pluralism and that no one duty absolutely overrides the others, unlike Kant's rigid rules.

What is a key belief of Ross regarding the duty to lie?

Ross believes that lying to protect a friend from harm is justified due to conflicting duties.

What are Prima Facie duties?

Prima Facie duties are moral obligations that hold at first glance but may require weighing against other duties.

How many basic Prima Facie duties did Ross identify?

Ross identified seven basic Prima Facie duties.

What is the first Prima Facie duty?

Duties of fidelity (keeping promises).

What is the second Prima Facie duty?

Duties of reparation for harm done.

What is the third Prima Facie duty?

Duties of gratitude (returning favors).

What is the fourth Prima Facie duty?

Duties of justice (distributing benefits fairly).

What is the fifth Prima Facie duty?

Duties of beneficence (promoting others' well-being).

What is the sixth Prima Facie duty?

Duties of self-improvement (enhancing one's character or intelligence).

What is the seventh Prima Facie duty?

Duties of non-maleficence (avoiding harm to others).

How does Ross suggest we determine our actual duties?

By weighing and considering the competing Prima Facie duties.

What are Proper Duties?

Proper Duties are recognized as morally significant at first glance according to the Prima Facie duties.

What distinguishes Actual Duties from Proper Duties?

Actual Duties are the specific duties we must act upon after weighing competing Prima Facie duties.

What happens when a Prima Facie duty conflicts with another?

We determine which actual duty to follow based on moral weight in context.

Give an example of a conflict between Proper and Actual Duties.

Keeping a promise (fidelity) may conflict with helping an injured person (beneficence).

What is the primary goal of Ross's ethical theory?

To reflect the complexity of our moral obligations.

How should one determine which Prima Facie duty to follow in a situation?

By following one's moral intuition to assess the situation.

What is Ross's view on Kant’s absolute moral rules?

Ross disagrees with Kant’s idea that moral rules are absolute and exceptionless.

What criticism did Ross have against utilitarianism?

Ross criticized utilitarianism for oversimplifying decision-making by prioritizing consequences.

How is Ross’s ethical theory described?

Ross’s theory can be best described as Ethical Pluralism.

What does Ethical Pluralism imply?

It implies that multiple fundamental moral principles guide ethical decision-making, rather than a single rule.

What is noted about the importance of Prima Facie duties?

It is considered self-evident and does not need proof for why it matters.

What does Ross mean by moral judgment being like judgments of beauty?

Moral judgment comes somewhat naturally and requires thought to weigh duties.

Can additional Prima Facie duties derive from the seven basic ones?

Yes, any other Prima Facie duties would derive from these seven basic duties.

How does Ross propose we resolve conflicts between duties?

By assessing which Prima Facie duty has the greatest moral weight in the specific context.

What is the nature of moral decision-making according to Ross?

It is flexible and nuanced, reflecting the complexity of moral obligations.

What is meant by a duty competing against another?

It means one duty may support an action while another may oppose it.