Final answer:
Duty theories, which are considered true, are part of deontological ethics and are based on foundational principles of obligation that are imperative in determining moral correctness irrespective of the consequences.
Step-by-step explanation:
Duty theories indeed base morality on specific, foundational principles of obligation. This statement is True. These theories are a part of the deontological ethics approach, where the rightness or wrongness of actions is based on rules or duties, rather than on the consequences of actions. Immanuel Kant, an influential deontologist, asserted that morality should be grounded in categorical imperatives which are absolute moral laws that apply universally and derive from reasons.
Sir William David Ross, another deontologist, identified prima facie duties and argued that these are our main moral commitments and include duties such as fidelity, reparation, gratitude, promoting a maximum of aggregate good, and non-maleficence. However, unlike Kant's absolutism, Ross believed that these duties are not absolute and may conflict, thereby requiring us to discern which is the most pressing in a given situation. This situational discernment acknowledges the complexity of moral life and challenges the notion that morality can be reduced to a single principle.
Deontological theories, including Ross's prima facie duties, aim to provide a framework for determining what is morally right while honoring our innate sense of moral commitment as part of our social responsibilities. By distinguishing between prima facie duties and actual duties, Ross's framework allows for a more nuanced approach to ethics that can handle situations with competing moral obligations.