casuist

plural casuists

1. ethicsA person who resolves cases of conscience or moral duty.
2. Someone who attempts to specify exact and precise rules for the direction of every circumstance of behaviour.

   1 more example

   Something, indeed, not unlike the doctrine of the casuists, seems to have been attempted by several philosophers. There is something of this kind in the third book of Cicero's offices, where he endeavours like a casuist to give rules for our conduct in many nice cases, in which it is difficult to determine whereabouts the point of propriety may lie.

   1759, Adam Smith, “Section IV. Of the Manner in which Different Authors have Treated of the Practical Rules of Morality.”, in The Theory of Moral Sentiments, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, […]; Edinburgh: A[lexander] Kincaid and J. Bell, →OCLC, part VI (Of Systems of Moral Philosophy), pages 546–547

3. One who is skilled in, or given to, casuistry.

   The judgment of any casuist or learned divine concerning the state of a man's soul, is not sufficient to give him confidence.

   1692–1717, Robert South, Twelve Sermons Preached upon Several Occasions, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London

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   Leave the two-party farce to those who enjoy it, supporting their efforts when — and only when — they treat others humanely and speak with modesty and responsibility, not as casuists, alarmists, and provocateurs of guilt.

   1980 December 13, Ray Olson, “Short Sighted And Silly”, in Gay Community News, volume 8, number 21, page 4