Form and content in moral rules

Abstract

In this thesis I shall be concerned with certain problems relating to rules, especially moral rules. In Part One supererogatory actions, including certain saintly and heroic actions, will be discussed. It has been claimed by J.O. Urmson that saintly and heroic actions cannot be required of agents, and this is, in fact, part of the point of calling these actions supererogatory on his account. Urmson contrasted supererogatory actions with "rock-bottom" duties which could be required of all. In Part One I shall challenge this claim and try to show how some actions, regarded as supererogatory by Urmson, can be required of certain agents under certain conditions. This will lead to the development of a list of forms for moral rules, models providing different ways in which rules can require a variety of actions under different conditions.