W.D. Ross, also a deontologist but with a more consequentialist orientation, recognized these shortcomings and proposed a slightly different model of duties. Ross advocated a set of duties that included fidelity, justice, beneficence, and nonmaleficence, among others, and he used the term prima facie duties to describe them. Prima facie, "at first glance," simply refers to the duty or obligation that appears to be what I should do without considering any other factors. My actual duty is the real duty, and there is only one morally justified course of action in any situation; however, the actual duty may not always be obvious, particularly when duties conflict. Unlike strict Kantian ethics that prohibit the consideration of consequences or related factors other than motive, Ross allows us to consider other factors in determining which prima facie duty or duties will achieve the greatest balance of rightness over wrongness. This approach is more likely to avoid unreasonable conclusions that can come from considering some duties as absolute in all circumstances.

For more on Kantian ethics see:

• Ethics Updates - Kant and Kantian Ethics
• Garrett, J. (2004). A Simple and Usable (Although Incomplete) Ethical Theory Based on the Ethics of W. D. Ross
• Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy - Immanuel Kant.
• Online Guide to Ethics and Moral Philosophy - Kant's Ethics.
• Philosophy Pages - Immanuel Kant.