Throughout the centuries, humanity's great thinkers have attempted to develop comprehensive ethical theories. The proper study of ethics requires us to consider issues such as right and wrong, vice and virtue, obligation and value. It is this sort of self-reflection on the part of humanity that separates us from the animal kingdom. Indeed, the importance of studying ethics cannot be underestimated, as the eminent philosopher Louis states. P Pojman writes in his book Ethics Discovering Right and Wrong: Knowledge of ethical theory has enormous practical advantages. It can free us from prejudices and dogmatism. It establishes global systems from which to guide our individual judgments. It breaks down the moral landscape so we can problem solve to think more clearly and confidently about moral problems. ()This article will cover key theories in the field of normative ethics. The primary objection, as stated, is based on a rigid and incorrect understanding of what constitutes a moral absolute. Moral absolutes or objective moral duties admit of no exceptions. However, they allow exemptions. Some absolutes are more or less important than others. This concept is best illustrated in the philosophical concept of prima facie duties. A prima facie duty is “an objectively true moral duty, free of exceptions, which can be overridden by a more weighty duty in a specific case. When this occurs, the prima facie duty does not disappear, but continues to apply to the specific case in question and makes its felt presence” (466). A clear distinction must be made between exceptions and exemptions "with the exemption the overridden principle continues to apply. In these latter cases the derogated principle no longer applies". Given this distinction, the initial objection to deontological ethics is no longer applicable and poses no problem for deontological ethics.