Ross's Prima Facie Duties
W.D. Ross identifies multiple irreducible moral duties: fidelity, reparation, gratitude, justice, beneficence, non-maleficence, and self-improvement. Prima facie duties are genuine but not absolute; they can conflict.
Real World
During the 2021 Afghanistan evacuation, soldiers faced conflicts between fidelity (honouring commitments to allies left behind) and non-maleficence (preventing further casualties) — a real illustration of Ross's irreducible, conflicting duties.
Exam Focus
List all seven prima facie duties accurately; examiners reward precision — vague references to 'duties' without naming them lose marks.
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