Final answer:
An agent's duty of confidentiality to the principal can conflict with the duty of honesty owed to a customer, requiring the agent to withhold information. Ross believed that prima facie duties such as honesty are important but must be weighed against each other, with judgment playing a crucial role in resolving any conflicts.
Step-by-step explanation:
When an agent owes a duty of confidentiality to his/her principal, there may be situations where this duty conflicts with other duties owed to a customer. Among these, the duty of honesty is the most likely to be compromised. For example, maintaining confidentiality might require withholding information that would otherwise be disclosed in the spirit of honesty to a customer. Ross's ethical theory highlights how prima facie duties, such as fidelity and non-maleficence, are important moral commitments, but they are not absolute and must be balanced depending on the situation.
Resolving Conflicts between Duties
To resolve a conflict between duties, such as never telling a lie and avoiding harm to someone, a person must exercise judgment to determine which duty is more pressing in the given circumstances. This situation requires weighing the prima facie duties against each other. For instance, Ross argued that duties of non-maleficence usually outweigh the duty to be honest if that honesty would cause harm.
The Role of Judgment
Ross believed that judgment is necessary when our prima facie duties conflict. There is often not a clear answer, and it is through the exercise of judgment that we determine our actual duties. An example of this can be seen when we have to choose between keeping a promise to a friend and aiding someone in distress.