W.D. Ross - Icon Profile | Alexandria
W.D. Ross (1877-1971), William David Ross, was a prominent Scottish philosopher, translator, and ethicist whose pluralistic approach to moral philosophy revolutionized 20th-century ethical thought. Known primarily for developing "ethical intuitionism" and his system of prima facie duties, Ross challenged the dominant utilitarian and Kantian frameworks of his time while serving as Provost of Oriel College, Oxford, and as a distinguished fellow of the British Academy.
First emerging in academic discourse through his groundbreaking translations of Aristotle's works in the early 1900s, Ross established himself as one of the leading Aristotelian scholars of his generation. His meticulous translation work laid the foundation for modern interpretations of Aristotelian ethics and metaphysics, occurring during a period of philosophical upheaval when ancient wisdom was being reexamined through contemporary lenses.
Ross's most influential contribution to moral philosophy appeared in his 1930 masterwork "The Right and the Good," where he introduced his theory of prima facie duties—a sophisticated framework suggesting that moral obligations exist in plurality and can sometimes conflict. This revolutionary perspective proposed seven basic moral duties: fidelity, reparation, gratitude, justice, beneficence, self-improvement, and non-maleficence. Unlike his predecessors who sought absolute moral principles, Ross argued that ethical decision-making requires careful weighing of competing moral claims, a view that presaged modern moral complexity discussions.
Ross's legacy continues to influence contemporary ethical debates, particularly in professional ethics, medical ethics, and business ethics. His nuanced approach to moral decision-making, acknowledging both the objective nature of moral truth and the complexity of its application, remains remarkably relevant in addressing modern ethical challenges. The elegant simplicity of his prima facie duties framework, combined with its practical applicability, raises intriguing questions about the balance between moral absolutes and situational ethics in an increasingly complex world. Contemporary philosophers still grapple with Ross's central question: how can we navigate competing moral obligations while maintaining ethical integrity?