Ethical or moral theory concerned with duties and rights. Deontology definition of deontology by the free dictionary. These are theories about what makes an act right or wrong, yet well focus on empirical developments, and ones that affect deontology in particular. Deontologists believe that the goal of moral philosophy should be to figure out the rules for living a moral life and that once people know those rules they should follow them. In deontological ethics an action is considered morally good because of some characteristic of the action itself, not because the product of the action is.
Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the cambridge dictionary editors or of cambridge university press or its licensors. The good will intentions count and the only intention that counts is the good will. A deontological normative theory holds that moral worth is an intrinsic feature of human actions, determined by formal rules of conduct. The term deontology is derived from the greek deon, duty, and logos, science. These are the obligations to do certain types of actions. Deontology is defined as an ethical theory that the morality of an action should be based on whether that action itself is right or wrong under a series of rules, rather than based on the consequences of the action. A contrast familiar in the philosophical literature is that between deontological. It is generally attributed to the philosophy of immanuel kant on categorical imperatives. This chapter introduces the field of moral philosophy, from which much scholarly knowledge. In other words, deontology falls within the domain of moral theories that guide.
The word deontology derives from the greek words for duty deon and science or study of logos. This may be the difference between cohens deontology, concerned with duty for its own sake, and a teleological world view, concerned with the consequences of actions. In deontological ethics an action is considered morally good. Deontology urges that actions or means to actions must themselves be ethical. There are two main categories of deontological theories in the literature.
Deontology is often associated with philosopher immanuel kant. Teleology, utilitarianism, and christian ethics lisa sowle cahill boston college the aim of this essay is to clarify the models of moral thinking and doing called teleology and deontology, to gain understanding of utilitarianism as a subcategory of the former, and to explore the relation. Deontology is also discernible from other nonconsequentialist theories, such as certain forms of virtue ethics, which explain morality in terms of the actors character traits, not rules. Ethics or moral philosophy is a branch of philosophy that involves questions about morality and the perception of good and evil, of right and wrong, of justice, virtue, and vice. Barbara herman aims to undermine the picture of kantian ethics as the defining example of a deontological theory, with those features highlighted that fit a preconceived, critical picture of deontology. Ethics based on the notion of a duty, or what is right, or rights, as opposed to ethical systems based on the idea of achieving some good state of affairs see consequentialism or the qualities of character necessary to live well see virtue ethics. Prichard, carritt, ross, and broad defended the deontological view that rejects that claim. Deontology article about deontology by the free dictionary. Deontology is an ethical theory that uses rules to distinguish right from wrong. I unlike consequentialism, it is highly unsituational.
Gk, deon, obligation, logos, science a doctrine of ethics that states that moral duty or obligation is binding even though a moral action may be different or result in painful consequences, also, that what makes acts right are nonconsequential characteristics such as fidelity, veracity, justice, and. Deontology definition, ethics, especially that branch dealing with duty, moral obligation, and right action. Metaethics, which focuses on the meaning of ethical terms themselves for. Whatever truth is, we do know that our beliefs about it have a tendency to change over time.
Said to have been coined by bentham, but it is used in a wider sense than he intended it. Deontological theory article about deontological theory. Kant believed that ethical actions follow universal moral laws, such as dont lie. A classic work of moral philosophy, which defends absolute constraints. It upholds ethical norms and truths to be universally applicable. Deontology is a school of moral philosophy in which ethical behavior equals following rules.
It is a concept which is based on a persons obligation or duty to treat others with respect. Deontological ethics is a moral philosophy where the usual ethical definition of right or wrong is based on a series of rules to follow instead of the consequences which occur from such a decision. In contemporary moral philosophy, deontology is one of those kinds of. Virtue ethics was an ancient ethical theory largely forgotten in favour of other ethical theories mainly utilitarianism and deontology until quite recently. The word deontology derives from the greek words for duty deon and. This article defends deontology, the philosophy that because they are a priori, moral principles must be obeyed regardless of terrible. Pdf this article starts from a methodological position that fact and value are. Deontological ethics, in philosophy, ethical theories that place special emphasis on the relationship between duty and the morality of human actions. Someone else put the merge tag on that article, which is more of an essay, but i would agree that duties and deontological ethics needs to either be merged into here or deleted, as it appears the topic can better be dealt with here. Deontological definition, ethics, especially that branch dealing with duty, moral obligation, and right action.
It sees rightness as something intrinsic, rather than extrinsic, to the action performed. Deontology dictionary definition deontology defined. An explication of the group of normative ethical theories known as deontology, which focuses on duties, rights and obligations over consequences or. Jean thomas moral outcomes, such as the rational capacity to associate freedom with obedience to universal moral laws. Ethical deontology philosophy oxford bibliographies. Thus, deontologists like kant suppose that moral obligation rests solely upon duty, without requiring any reference to the. Deontological meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. Deontology meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. An uptodate and very detailed overview of deontology with a special focus on the division into agentcentered and victimcentered patientcentered deontological theories. Deontological ethics i deontological ethics says that being good consists in following the right rulesmeeting all your obligations. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the cambridge dictionary editors or of cambridge university. Robert olson, deontological ethics in the encyclopedia of philosophy, paul. However, a brief survey of deontology in nonanglophone philosophical encyclopedias and dictionaries cf. To kant, all humans must be seen as inherently worthy of respect and dignity.
Piers rawling introduction which actions does morality require of us. In contemporary moral philosophy, deontology is used most commonly to refer. The project gutenberg ebook of moral philosophy, by joseph rickaby, s. Difference between deontology and teleology difference. Sidgwick, rashdall, mctaggart, and moore were consequentialists, holding that right acts always maximize the good. In contemporary moral philosophy, deontology is one of those kinds of normative theories regarding which choices are morally required, forbidden, or permitted. It has become fashionable to deny that kant is a deontologist, but he certainly qualifies as a. In moral philosophy, deontological ethics or deontology from greek. The american heritage dictionary defines ethics as the study of the. Deontological ethics routledge encyclopedia of philosophy. This chapter first examines sidgwicks critique of deontology and defence of consequentialism, arguing that it is repeatedly unfair, holding the principles it criticizes to standards. Minerva an open access journal of philosophy 19 2015. Deontology the word comes from the greek deon meaning one must denies this, and asserts that there are several distinct duties, not all of which depend for their status as duties on considerations of value alone.
Ethics based on the notion of a duty, or what is right, or rights, as opposed to ethical systems based. To view the pdf, you must log in or become a member. Combining deontology and consequentialist principles may also operate under a reverse logic in which deontological priorities constrain consequentialist. Deontological ethics stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. Hunhuubuntu is not a philosophy or theory crafted by one person, as is the case with aristotelian eudaimonism, kantian deontology or platonic dualism mangena, 2012. It just requires that people follow the rules and do their duty.
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