While duties are what you are expected to do, _____________ are commendable but not required actions.

While duties are what you are expected to do, _____________ are commendable but not required actions.

• A. Functions
• B. Supererogatories
• C. Imperfect duties
• D. Obligations

Answer: (B)

In ethics, we distinguish between what you are morally required to do and actions that go beyond duty. Actions that are commendable but not required are called supererogatory. These are things that admirable people might do, but there’s no obligation to do them. For example, donating far more than is needed or risking your life to save someone else without being obligated to do so would be considered supererogatory. Other terms don’t fit this idea. Functions refer to roles or purposes, not moral praise for going beyond duty. Imperfect duties are duties you ought to perform but aren’t required in every situation, so they’re still duties rather than beyond-duty acts. Obligations are duties; they’re what you are expected to do, not the praiseworthy beyond-duty acts described here.

In ethics, we distinguish between what you are morally required to do and actions that go beyond duty. Actions that are commendable but not required are called supererogatory. These are things that admirable people might do, but there’s no obligation to do them. For example, donating far more than is needed or risking your life to save someone else without being obligated to do so would be considered supererogatory.

Other terms don’t fit this idea. Functions refer to roles or purposes, not moral praise for going beyond duty. Imperfect duties are duties you ought to perform but aren’t required in every situation, so they’re still duties rather than beyond-duty acts. Obligations are duties; they’re what you are expected to do, not the praiseworthy beyond-duty acts described here.