Final answer:
The ethical viewpoint that emphasizes that actions are right or wrong based on whether they fulfill our duty, rather than their consequences, is known as deontological ethics. Deontological ethics is associated with duties and moral rules, famously articulated by Immanuel Kant with his formulation of the categorical imperative. Pluralists like Sir William David Ross have expanded deontological thought to include prima facie duties, which consider consequences as a secondary factor.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ethical viewpoint that asserts that the rightness or wrongness of actions depends on whether they fulfill our duty rather than on their consequences is known as deontological ethics. This approach to morality emphasizes adherence to duties or moral rules as the primary determinant of moral behavior. Immanuel Kant, a prominent philosopher, was the first to advance a deontological approach, formulating the concept of the categorical imperative, which outlines moral principles that apply universally regardless of the outcomes of following them.
Deontological ethics focuses on the principle that some actions are morally obligatory regardless of their potential to produce good outcomes. It holds that certain actions must be performed because they are inherently right, and others must be avoided because they are inherently wrong. In situations with conflicting moral obligations, deontologists might weigh the different duties to determine which should prevail.
Pluralists such as Sir William David Ross further developed deontological principles by suggesting that there can be several prima facie duties, which are duties that are binding unless overridden by a more important duty in a particular situation. The concept of prima facie duties allows for consideration of consequences within a fundamentally deontological framework, adding complexity to our moral decision-making processes.