Prima Facie Duties

W.D. Ross on Utilitarianism

• Fulfilment of promises (on grounds that it seems that we should do so) - not forward-looking to consequences.
• Instead backward-looking to past event of promising and the obligation thereby generated
• Consequences considered only in cases where I'm considering more pressing duties - i.e. Justice usually prior to beneficence, unless beneficence provides a greater good
• Moore's ideal utilitarianism: oversimplifies relations with others. Possible beneficiaries of action.
• Myriad…