Deck 16: Ethical Pluralism: Prima Facie Duties and Ethical Particularism

Question 1

Write an essay describing the central features of Ross's ethic of prima facie duties. Define the notion of a prima facie duty, and explain how a moral theory based on prima facie duties differs from monistic and absolutist moral theories.

Answer 1

No Answer.

Question 2

What do you think is the biggest attraction of Ross's view? Explain why Ross's view has this attraction and why some competing ethical theories do not. Is this a sufficient reason to accept Ross's theory or not?

Answer 2

No Answer.

Question 3

How does Ross claim that we come to have moral knowledge? Why might someone find such a view unsatisfying? How serious of a problem do you think this is for Ross's view?

Answer 3

No Answer.

Question 4

According to Ross, how can we come to know the fundamental moral rules? Do you think that this is a legitimate way to come to know moral truths? If so, explain why. If not, explain a more viable alternative.

Question 5

According to Ross, what should we do when our prima facie duties conflict? Do you think that this is a serious problem for his view? Why or why not?

Question 6

What is ethical particularism? Define the theory, and explain how it differs from other ethical views. What is the biggest problem for ethical particularism? How might an ethical particularist respond to this problem?

Question 7

A prima facie duty is

A) a moral reason to do or abstain from something.
B) a consideration that can be overridden by other considerations.
C) not really a duty.
D) All of the above

Question 8

Which of the following arguments against absolutism is also a threat to Ross's view?

A) The argument from contradiction
B) The argument from disaster prevention
C) The argument from irrationality
D) None of the above

Question 9

According to Ross's theory, in order to know what to do when prima facie duties conflict, we must

A) appeal to more fundamental moral principles.
B) ask ourselves what a virtuous person would do.
C) bring our experience and insight to bear on the case.
D) think about a world in which everyone acted in the way we're considering.

Question 10

Ethical particularists reject

A) ethical monism.
B) ethical absolutism.
C) the existence of prima facie duties.
D) All of the above

Question 11

According to particularism,

A) there are no moral rules.
B) there are no moral duties.
C) moral rules only apply in particular situations.
D) Both a and b

Question 12

Particularists claim that justice is

A) always the most important moral consideration.
B) always an important moral consideration, though not always the most important one.
C) sometimes an important moral consideration and sometimes not.
D) never an important moral consideration.

Question 13

If particularism is true, then

A) nothing possesses permanent moral importance.
B) many different things possess permanent moral importance.
C) there are many true moral rules, but none of them is absolute.
D) there are many absolute moral rules.

Question 14

How does Ross think we can know what the right thing to do is when our prima facie duties conflict?

A) By deducing it from other moral principles
B) It is self-evident.
C) Through a process of circular reasoning
D) None of the above-Ross did not think there was a definite method for determining right action in such cases.

Question 15

Which of the following would ethical particularists accept?

A) There is a supreme principle of morality.
B) There is sometimes a fact of the matter about what we ought to do.
C) There are some true moral rules, but they all have exceptions.
D) All of the above

Question 16

According to the text, what is the most serious problem for ethical particularism?

A) It lacks unity.
B) It lacks an account of moral knowledge.
C) Some things seem to possess moral importance.
D) It falsely claims that some moral rules are exceptionless.