[Revised entry by David Heyd on March 4, 2024.
Changes to: Main text, Bibliography]
Supererogation is the technical term for the class of actions that go “beyond the call of duty.” Roughly speaking, supererogatory acts are morally good although not (strictly) required. Although common discourse in most cultures allows for such acts and often attaches special value to them, ethical theories have only rarely discussed this category of actions directly and systematically. A conspicuous exception is the Roman Catholic tradition, which gave rise to the concept of supererogation, and the virulent attacks on it…

Originally appeared on Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy Read More