prima facie duty

ethics

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July 13, 2026

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Prima facie duties are a concept in deontological ethics, a moral philosophy that emphasizes duties and rules. Developed by philosopher W.D. Ross, this approach suggests that we have several fundamental duties, such as fidelity, reparation, gratitude, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and self-improvement.12

These duties are considered "prima facie," meaning they are binding at first glance. However, they are not absolute. In situations where duties conflict, one prima facie duty may override another, and the decision of which duty is more stringent in a particular circumstance relies on intuition. This contrasts with consequentialist ethics, which judges the morality of an action based on its outcomes.123

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ethics
An ethics of prima facie duties
In the first third of the 20th century, the chief alternative to utilitarianism was provided by the intuitionists, especially W.D. Ross. Because of this situation, Ross’s normative position was often called “intuitionism,” though it would be more accurate and less confusing to…
Read More
In the first third of the 20th century, the chief alternative to utilitarianism was provided by the intuitionists, especially W.D. Ross. Because of this situation, Ross’s normative position was often called “intuitionism,” though it would be more accurate and less confusing to…
Read More