Prima facie duties are moral obligations that appear to be duties at first glance, but may be overridden by other moral considerations. They are initial or presumptive duties that can be outweighed by other moral factors in specific situations.
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Prima facie duties are a key concept in the deontological moral theory, which focuses on the inherent rightness or wrongness of actions based on moral rules or principles.
These duties are considered prima facie, or 'at first sight,' because they can be overridden by other moral considerations in specific situations.
Prima facie duties are often in tension with the requirements of consequentialism, which judges the morality of an action based on its outcomes rather than its adherence to rules.
The concept of prima facie duties helps to resolve moral dilemmas by acknowledging that there may be competing moral obligations that must be weighed against each other.
Prima facie duties are distinct from moral absolutism, which holds that there are inviolable moral rules that must always be followed, regardless of the consequences.
Review Questions
Explain how the concept of prima facie duties relates to the requirements of a normative moral theory.
The concept of prima facie duties is closely tied to the requirements of a normative moral theory, such as deontology. Deontological theories judge the morality of an action based on its adherence to moral rules or principles, rather than its consequences. Prima facie duties represent these initial moral obligations that appear to be duties at first glance. However, they can be overridden by other moral considerations, which helps to address the complexity of real-world moral dilemmas where multiple duties may come into conflict.
Contrast the role of prima facie duties in deontological and consequentialist moral theories.
In deontological theories, prima facie duties are central to determining the morality of an action, as they represent the initial moral obligations that must be considered. Deontologists argue that these duties should be followed, even if doing so does not maximize positive consequences. In contrast, consequentialist theories, such as utilitarianism, judge the morality of an action solely based on its outcomes, rather than its adherence to moral rules or principles. From a consequentialist perspective, prima facie duties may be overridden if following them would not result in the best overall consequences.
Evaluate how the concept of prima facie duties helps to resolve moral dilemmas by acknowledging the potential for competing moral obligations.
The concept of prima facie duties is valuable in resolving moral dilemmas because it recognizes that there may be multiple, competing moral obligations that must be considered. In a moral dilemma, it is often the case that two or more prima facie duties appear to conflict, making it difficult to determine the right course of action. By acknowledging that these duties can be overridden by other moral considerations, the concept of prima facie duties provides a framework for weighing and balancing different moral factors in order to reach a justified conclusion. This helps to avoid the rigidity of moral absolutism, which would require always following a single moral rule, and instead allows for a more nuanced and contextual approach to ethical decision-making.