7 PRIMA FACIE DUTIES

WILLIAM DAVID ROSS

Scottish philosopher constructed the 7
facie duties as a basis for his ethical theory.
They are list of obligations to the self and
others meant to help people live the good
life and help others to do so as well.
Born in APRIL 15, 1877 Ross and dies May
5, 1971 age 94 in Oxford England, spent his
early childhood in India where his father
worked as an educator, college
administrator, veteran, civic servant and
humanities scholar. His main interest is
Ethic.
At age 6, he returned to Scotland to attend school
and proved himself a bright, motivated student.
 As philosopher, Ross drew on the moral theories of
Aristotle and Immanuel Kant to develop his own
ethical approach.

ROSS ETHICAL THEORY:

W.D.ROSS was a moral realist, a non –naturalist and a
in intuitionist .. By contrast Ross argues that
maximising the goods is only one of several prima
facie duties which play a role in determining what a
person ought to do in any given case. Moral Intuition
were like perceptions.
PRIMA FACIE – Something that has been
proven or seemed to be true unless there is
evidence presented to the contrary.
7 PRIMA FACIE DUTIES:
1. FIDELITY To love Ones–duties to keep
one`s promises and contracts and not to
engage in deception.
Example:
 Jon the spouse of Lani your bestfriend
and suddenly you sow her husband with
another girl in the mall embracing and
hugging Jon. What would be your Reaction
2.NON-INJURY/ NON-MALEFISCENCE- to prevent
Injury to Others. the duty not to harm others
physically or psychologically: to avoid harming their,
security, intelligence, character, or happiness. It
also includes a duty to prevent injury to others.
Prevent injury to others, non harm, prohibit,
deliberate action meant to injure yourself or others.
IN AN EXCLUSIVE SCHOOL FOR BOYS , YOU WITNESS
A FRATERNITY HAZING, A NEOPHYTE IS BEATEN TO
DEATH. THIS YOUR FIRST TIME TO WITNESS IT AND
YOU ARE JUST A VISITOR IN THAT SCHOOL.
REACTION:
Refrain from cruelty and treat others as
valued members of society. Do not hurt
others but also made an effort to help others
avoid hurt.
Educate yourself about social equality and
poverty so you may work to prevent people
from the harm.
Example:
Teach child not to talk with strangers/ Not to
enter cars driven by stranger to help feeling
of hurt or harm themselves.
3. Gratitude in Response to Generosity- the
duty of gratitude to be grateful for
benefactions done to oneself and if possible
to show it by benefactors in return. The
duty to thank those who helped us.
Response to generosity involved your
responsibility, to repay the kindness or
generosity of others.
Repayment of material assets, but material
repayment can sometimes prove
inappropriate.
LINDA A SPEECH THERAPIST IS ASKED BY
HER NEIGHBOR MRS ANG TO PASS THEIR
HOUSE ON HER WAY HOME FROM WORK TO
TREAT AND GIVE THERAPY TO GERTRUDE,
HER 7 YEAR OLD RETARDED DAUGHTER,
TWICE A WEEK. MRS ANG DOES NOT PAY
LINDA, BUT GIVES HER DELICIOUS
MERIENDAS AND A NICE CHRISTMAS GIFT.
REACTION
Express thanks and maintain a meaningful
relationship that brings your opportunities to give
back materially and emotionally.
Example: Giving a gift on occasion of anniversary
or birthday to your love ones.
WHENEVER ALING CHOLING NEEDS A
COMPANION, HER NEIGHBOR NELIE A
HOUSEWIFE, ACCOMPANIES HER. BUT ALING
CHOLING ALWAYS FAILED TO SAY THANK YOU
AND NELIE FEELS IT IS HER OBLIGATION TO HELP
HER ALL THE TIME.
REACTION:
4. BENEFICENCE towards Others- The duty to do
good to others. To foster their health, security,
wisdom, moral goodness or happiness.
This duty, says Ross, “ Rests upon that there are
other beings in the world whose condition we can
make better in respect of virtue, or intelligence or
pleasure.

YOU ARE THE SCHOOL NURSE, YOU SEE JAMES 3

YEAR OLD BOY IN KINDER WETS HIS PANTS ON HIS
FIRST DAY AND HE CRIES A LOT WHEN HIS MOTHER
LEFT HIM IN HIS ROOM. HER TEACHER LEAVES YOU
IN THE ROOM TO GET SOMETHING. REACTION.
Duties of kindness, requires that you treat others
help their them access the good life.
Performs thoughtful act that improves the well being
of others. Given liberally to people `need. The
practice of beneficence benefits society as well as
the people you love.

JOHN AND MELLY ARE WORKING PARENTS LIVING

WITH TWO SMALL CHILDREN. BOTH OF THEM SMOKE.
YOU ARE A PART TIME YAYA OR BABYSEATER FOR HIS
SMALL CHILDREN AT HOME FOR YOU TO HAVE
ADDITIONAL ALLOWANCE.
 REACTION
 5. SELF-IMPROVEMENT as Ethical
Behaviour : The duty of self –improvement
is to act so as to promote one`s own good,
we have an obligation to improve our own
virtue, intelligence and happiness, health,
security, wisdom.

JANE 16 YEAR OLD GRADE 11 STUDENT IN

JASMS VOMITS EVERY TIME SHE EATS
MANGOES. BUT SHE KEEPS ON BUYING IT?
REACTION:
6. JUSTICE – as Fair Redistribution - does not have to
do with the amount of good produce but with its
distribution. We have the duty to try to be fair and
distribute benefits and burdens equally and evenly.
Duties in part implies an implication to distribute
goods and services fairly.
Ross supports the use of common sense rather than
exact redistribution .
DR. TORRES DOES NOT DO ABORTION BECAUSE HE
CLAIMS IT IS WRONG. BUT HE REFERS THE PATIENT
WHO WANT ABORTION TO DR.ZANTUA HIS FRIEND
WHO DOES IT. REACTION:
Reward those who perform task that
benefit society, such as teachings.
In families, treat beside equally weather
think realities and common sense.
Example:
If one child`s steals from an abused you,
invest emotion or material resources in the
others.
7. REPARATION – doing restitution duty to
make amends when we have wrong
someone else. (Duty to make up for the
injuries one has done to others).
Ross describes this duty as “ resting on a
previous wrongful act.
PRIMA FACIE DUTIES (ORIGINATED BY
W.D. ROSS). 1877-1971
ADVANTAGES:
1. Solve the problem of ethical delema.
Thus, ethical delema will not occur because
one of the prima facie obligations in a given
situation is always the weightiest or not
consider.
When two or more moral duties clash, we
have to look at individual situations to see
which duty is overriding (more/ most
important) choosing the more/most
important duty to follow.
EXAMPLE;
DANNY AWAKENS AND SEES A MOVING
OBJECT IN HIS BEDROOM. WITHOUT
THINKING HE TOOK HIS GUN AND SHOT IT
AND IT TURNS OUT TO BE HIS BROTHER.
GIVE YOUR REACTION:
FELIX GOES TO THE CLINIC FOR A CHEST X
RAY. AS THE RADIOLOGY TECHNICIAN, YOU
KNOW THAT THE X-RAY MACHINE HAS NOT
BEEN WORKING PROPERLY; YET THE
OWNER OF THE CLINIC CONTINUE TO USE
IT.

REACTION: