justice
obligation
intuition
moral
intuitionism
W I L L I A M D A V I D R O S S
WILLIAM
DAVID
ROSS
British PHILOSOPHER
born in Thurso scotland
(15 April 1877)
son of john ross
Died: 5 May 1971 (aged 94)
MAIN WORKS
THE RIGHT AND THE GOOD
(1930)
THE BASIS OF OBJECTIVE
JUDGEMENTS IN ETHICS (1927)
what is moral
intuitionism?
Intuitionism is a significant epistemological view in
moral philosophy that posits the existence of certain
moral truths that can be known intuitively, without the
need for logical inference or systematic reasoning.
Concept of Intuition
Immanuel Kant was one of the earliest philosophers to
use the term "intuition" in a specialized sense,
describing it as a form of immediate cognition
characterized by perceptual immediacy. For Kant,
intuition involves knowing an object through direct
sensory experience, without the mediation of analytical
thought.
Henri Bergson further developed the notion of intuition,
suggesting it encompasses a holistic form of cognition
that allows for a complete and immediate
understanding of an object.
William David Ross’s use of intuition is distinct from
both Kant and Bergson. While he acknowledges the
immediate apprehension of moral truths, Ross does not
extend it to the mystical or all-encompassing realm
proposed by Bergson.
Instead, Ross aligns with a rationalist tradition where
intuition serves as an initial intellectual appearance or
moral sense, which can be refined through reflection
and thought.
Ross’s Ethical
Intuitionism
Prima Facie Duties
Central to Ross’s moral intuitionism is the
idea of "prima facie duties”
The Role of Intuition
Ross asserts that intuition is a means by which individuals
apprehend moral truths. this may manifest as a "gut feeling" or
instinctive reaction.
However, through further consideration and reflection, these
intuitions can evolve into a form of moral certainty. Ross states
that certain moral propositions, such as the obligation to keep
promises or promote the good of others, can be seen as self-
evident truths, requiring no external proof.
Moral Certainty
Ross emphasizes that, much like mathematical axioms, these moral
propositions possess a self-evident quality that becomes apparent
upon reaching a sufficient level of mental maturity and
contemplation.
He argues that this intuitive moral knowledge commands a level of
conviction similar to that found in mathematical reasoning.
Consequently, moral truths are embedded in the fundamental
nature of the universe, just as spatial and numerical structures are.
prima facie duties
Are self-evident and obvious duties (prima facie is a Latin
expression meaning ‘on first appearances’ or ‘by first instance’).
These are duties that are morally binding unless they conflict with
a stronger duty
In a particular situation, one of these duties might be the most
pressing, and it becomes the "actual duty"
prima facie duties
“When we have reached sufficient mental maturity and have
given sufficient attention to the proposition it is evident
without any need of proof, or of evidence beyond itself.”
-W.D Ross, The Right and The Good, 1930.
ROSS’S LIST OF PRIMA
FACIE DUTIES:
FIDELITY REPARATION GRATITUDE
JUSTICE BENEFICENCE
SELF-IMPROVEMENT NON-MALEFICENCE
ROSS’S LIST OF PRIMA
FACIE DUTIES:
FIDELITY We should strive to keep promises and be honest
and truthful
REPARATION We should make amends when we have wronged
someone else.
GRATITUDE We should be grateful to others when they perform
actions that benefit us and we should try to return
the favor
JUSTICE We should be fair to everyone
ROSS’S LIST OF PRIMA
FACIE DUTIES:
BENIFECENCE We should be kind to others and try to improve their
health, wisdom, security, hapiness, and well-being.
SELF - IMPROVEMENT We should strive to improve our own wisdom,
security, hapiness and well-being.
NON-MALEFICENCE We should refrain from harming others either
physically or psychologically.
For Ross theory, prima facie duties refers to a conditional
duty while actual duty is unconditional duty.
And according to Ross an actual duty is ones duty proper
and as our duty proper is what we have referring to as our
moral obligation.
The actual duty is the most stringent duty.
An act is a prima facie duty when there is a moral reason in
favor of doing the act, but one that can be outweighed by
other moral reasons.
An act is a prima facie wrong when there is a moral reason
against doing the the act, but one that can be outweighed
by other moral reasons.
HOW DO WE RESOLVED WHEN
CONFLICTS OF DUTIES ARISE?
According to Ross when a conflict of duties happened then
we ought to do if which is more of a duty. In other words,
Ross is telling that “when a conflict of duties arise, we ought
to act in accordance with the prima facie duties which has
a greater balance of rightness over wrongness.”
example:
Anna promised his son to be at home after work so that
they could have dinner together. However, when Anna
was about to go home, his boss got suddenly have a
heart attack. Since nobody is around to help his boss
except her, so she felt obligated to help his boss and
bring him to the nearest hospital.
fidelity
Anna promised his son to at home after work so that
they could have dinner together.
benificence
When Anna was about to go home, his boss got suddenly
have a heart attack. Since nobody is around to help his
boss except her, so she felt obligated to help his boss
and bring him to the nearest hospital.
actual duty
The actual duty is the most stringent duty which is
Anna’s moral obligation to help his boss. While still
finding other ways to keep her promise to his son.
If I have promised to meet a friend at a particular time
for some trivial purpose , I should cerntainly think
myself justified in breaking my engagement if by doing
so I could prevent a serious accident or bring relief to
the victims of one.”
-W.D Ross, (p.18)
example:
Gloria works as a manager in a company that is hiring for
a senior position. One of the applicants is a close family
friend who has done a lot for her in the past that helped
her financially during tough times and supported her
emotionally, and even provided career advice. She feel a
strong sense of gratitude toward this person.
However, during the interview process, she notice that
this family friend is less qualified than another applicant.
The other candidate has stronger qualifications, more
experience, and better fits the needs of the company.
gratitude
Gloria works as a manager in a company that is hiring for
a senior position. One of the applicants is a close family
friend who has done a lot for her in the past that helped
her financially during tough times and supported her
emotionally, and even provided career advice. She feel a
strong sense of gratitude toward this person.
justice
However, during the interview process, she notice that
this family friend is less qualified than another applicant.
The other candidate has stronger qualifications, more
experience, and better fits the needs of the company.
actual duty
Gloria have the actual duty to hire the most qualified
candidate, upholding justice, while finding other ways to
express your gratitude to her family friend that don't
compromise fairness.
how do we know that one is a
more of a duty than the other
or the duty has the greater
balance of rightness over
wrongness?
ACTUAL DUTY
This is the duty people are left with after they have
weighed up all conflicting duties that apply in a
particular case.
conclusion
thank
you!
