道德义务与超道德的行为

Moral Duty and Supererogation

区别道德义务与超道德行为对于我们认识道德的本质和合理的道德要求具有重要意义。一个人的行为是否道德取决于它是否满足了道德义务所要求的,而不取决于它是否满足了超道德的要求。满足了道德义务的行为是道德的行为,违反了道德义务的行为是不道德的行为,而没有违反道德义务的行为或者不为道德义务所禁止的行为则是道德上可允许的行为。将超道德的行为混同于道德义务会导致超道德的要求,在实践中会引起种种弊病。

Recognizing the distinction between moral duty and supererogation is very important in understanding the nature of morality and appropriate moral requirements. Whether an act is morally right depends on whether it meets the demand of a moral duty, but not whether it meets the demand of supererogation. A moral act is the act that meets the demand of a moral duty. An immoral act isthe act that violates what the duty requires. A morally permissible act is the act that does not violate what it requires. Any attempt to treat supererogation as moral duty will lead to very bad consequences in moral practicc.