A Study On W.D. Ross’s Theory Of Prima Facie Duty

W.D.Ross is a famous moralist in contemporary westernsociety, most of the time his theory is the most importanttheory of morality in the last two century.The critical comment on W.D.Ross’s theory of prima facieduty is often based on the misreading of Ross’s theory.We willanalyze and summarize Ross’s theory of prima facie duty, andresponse to the objection to prove Ross’s theory of prima facieduty.Firstly,We will summarize and analyze Ross’s theory ofprima facie duty,and expound Ross’s criticism toutilitarianism.Intuitionism is the philosophical foundationof Ross’s theory of prima facie duty.Secondly,We willexpound the origin and connotation of the intuition theory, anddiscusse Ross’s intuition theory.Several types to confirm theactual duty can be seen in the writings of Ross, this paper sortsout four possible types,and summarizes four features of thetheory of prima facie duty:self-evident, irreducibility, gentle and non-absolutism.Thirdly, we will response to theobjection in order to prove Ross’s theory of prima facieduty.Fanilly, this paper will expound the value andcontribution of Ross’s theory of prima facie duty.Ross argue that the most basic moral propositions areself-evident, claiming that the prima facie principles areself-evident, but he does not think that actual duty isself-evident. Compared with the uncertain judgment of actualduty, the most basic moral proposition (prima facie duty) isself-evident.Compared with the utilitarian monism, Ross arguesthat moral rules are plural, and can not be unified as aprinciple. Compared with one-sided and extreme Prichard’sdeontology, Ross’s theory of prima facie duty is moderate.Rossdistinguishes prima facie duty and actual duty,which overcomesthe drawbacks of the absolutism of Kant.Some scholars believe that Ross’s theory of prima facieduty is lack of systematic, David McNaughton claims thatRoss’s theory of prima facie duty is of systematic asutilitarianism. In epistemology, Ross’s theory includeMarxist theory.Many scholars believe that Ross’s intuitionism is wrong, they think that intuition is a kind of sixth sense,this sixth sense is mysterious and subtle.While Ross’s writingsdoes not refer to mysterious function.Ross thinks the basicmoral attribute is self-evident.This means that we just havethe ability to understand the basic moral proposition, andgrasp them on the basis of understanding them.Ross thinks thatself-evident moral propositions is not obvious, and is notclear for all the mind, but can be directly comprehend by theMature mind.