Question

A prima facie duty is one that:

1) never conflicts with other duties
2) can never be violated under any circumstances
3) is morally binding unless it conflicts with a more important duty
4) defines our actual duty in a particular set of circumstances

Answer 1

A prima facie duty is a moral responsibility that is binding unless it conflicts with a more important duty. It is not absolute and may conflict with other duties. Sir William David Ross identified five main prima facie duties.

Step-by-step explanation:

A prima facie duty is a moral responsibility that is morally binding unless it conflicts with a more important duty. It does not mean that it can never be violated under any circumstances or that it never conflicts with other duties. Prima facie duties are determined using a quasi-consequentialist approach that considers a plurality of intrinsic goods. Sir William David Ross identified five main prima facie duties: duty of fidelity, duty of reparation, duty of gratitude, duty to promote maximum aggregate good, and duty of non-maleficence.