W.D. Ross

W.D. Ross was a philosopher known for his contributions to normative and deontological ethics, which focus on the moral obligations individuals have. He introduced the idea of "prima facie duties," which are moral principles that guide our actions but can conflict with one another. For instance, you might have a duty to tell the truth, but also a duty to help a friend in need. Ross believed that ethical decision-making involves weighing these duties to determine what is right in a given situation, emphasizing that moral choices are complex and often require careful consideration.