From a moral standpoint, Pufendorf believed that duties were more important than rights. Second, Pufendorf distinguished between perfect and imperfect duties. Perfect duties are obligations that are precisely defined, and dictate our proper conduct everywhere at all times, such as the duty not to steal. Imperfect duties, by contrast, such as the duty to be charitable, are not fixed, but open as to when and how we perform this duty. Concerning our duties towards others, Pufendorf divides these between absolute duties, which are universally binding on people, and conditional duties, which are the result of contracts between people.
Conditional duties are far reaching and involve every aspect of social contracts and agreements.
The first of these is to keep one's promises. Pufendorf's division of moral duties quickly became a standard tool among moral theoriests for determining moral conduct. Philosophers at this time also distinguished between direct duties and indirect duties. For example, I have a direct duty to show you respect, since you are immediately entitled to respect. Problems with Traditional Duty Theory.