Study Questions

  1. What objections does Ross raise to egoism, hedonistic utilitarianism, and Moore’s “ideal utilitarianism”? Do you find these objections compelling?
  2. What is a prima facie duty, and how do prima facie duties differ from actual duties? What advantages does Ross claim for his ethic of prima facie duties? What difficulties do you think such a view faces?
  3. How does Ross think we ought to go about constructing and arguing for a moral theory? Do you find his method plausible? Why or why not?
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