supererogatorio

Supererogatorio, in moral philosophy, refers to actions that are morally good and praiseworthy but go beyond what duty or obligation requires. An act classified as supererogatory is not morally required; choosing not to perform it is not blameworthy, yet performing it earns praise or admiration.

The term derives from Latin supererogatio, meaning to discharge something beyond what is owed. Historically, medieval theologians, notably Thomas Aquinas, used the concept to distinguish obligatory duties from acts that exceed duty. In modern ethics, the idea has been carried into secular discussions about charity, benevolence, and heroic acts, helping to articulate a space for moral praise without obligation.

Common examples include giving away a significant portion of one’s wealth to relieve suffering, or risking one’s life to save strangers, where failure to act would not constitute a moral failing in the same way as refusing to help when obligated. Supererogatory acts are contrasted with obligatory actions, which one is morally required to perform, and with actions that are simply permissible or impermissible.

The status of supererogation is debated. Some ethical theories, particularly strict Kantian deontology, question whether anything can lie beyond duty, while utilitarian and virtue-ethical frameworks generally allow room for acts that exceed duty. Critics worry about placing excessive moral expectations on individuals or conflating moral praise with coercive pressure.

In practice, the category helps explain why certain actions are celebrated as virtuous beyond what is demanded, and why generous acts often justify moral admiration without implying a formal obligation.