DePaul University

• AI 322

• 1. In his book The Right and the Good Ross identified 7 prima facie moral duties. What are they? (2 points.) 1. Fidelity- We keep our promises. We are honest and truthful and avoid lying and deception. Ross describes them as "those resting on a promise or what may fairly be called an implicit promise, such as the implicit undertaking not to tell lies which seems to be implied in the act of entering into conversation . . . or of writing books that purport to be history and not fiction" 2. Reparation- We should make amends for any wrongful acts performed onto others. This action makes up for the past morally wrong action. Ross describes this duty as "resting on a previous wrongful act" 3. Gratitude- We should be grateful to others when their actions benefit us, and we should try and return the favor. 4. Justice- We should try to be fair and distribute benefits among people according to merit and prevent unjust distribution. Ross says this type of duty, "rests on the fact or possibility of a distribution of pleasure or happiness (or the means thereto) that is not in accord with the merit of the persons concerned; in such cases there arises a duty to upset or prevent such a distribution" 5. Beneficence- We should be kind to others and help improve their character, increase their pleasure, and reduce their pain through means of their health, wisdom, security, happiness, and well-being. Ross says this duty, "rests upon the fact that there are other beings in the world whose condition we can make better in respect of virtue, or of intelligence, or of pleasure