Deontology

Deontology is a philosophical approach to ethics that emphasizes the rightness or wrongness of actions themselves, as opposed to the rightness or wrongness of the outcomes of those actions (consequentialism). It is sometimes described as "duty-" or "obligation-" or "rule-" based ethics, because rules "bind you to your duty". Deontological ethics is commonly contrasted to consequentialism, virtue ethics, and pragmatic ethics.

Overview

The term deontology comes from the Greek word deon, meaning duty. The theory of deontology states that when we have to make ethical decisions, our first thoughts are often about the duties, principles, or rules that apply to the situation.

History

The concept of deontology has been traced back to the philosopher Immanuel Kant, who argued that certain types of actions are absolutely prohibited, even in cases where the action would bring about more happiness than the alternative.

Principles

Deontological theories differ in their characterization of the moral duty. However, there are a number of key principles that are commonly associated with deontological ethical theories. These include:

• Autonomy: The principle of autonomy requires that individuals should be able to govern themselves and make their own decisions. This is often linked to the concept of respect for persons.
• Justice: This principle requires that we treat all individuals equally and fairly.
• Beneficence: This principle requires that we promote the well-being of others.
• Non-maleficence: This principle requires that we do not harm others.

Criticisms

Like all normative theories of ethics, deontology has been subject to criticism. Critics argue that deontological theories are overly rigid and cannot account for situations where we need to make difficult decisions in the face of conflicting duties.

See also

• Ethics
• Immanuel Kant
• Consequentialism
• Virtue ethics
• Pragmatic ethics

References

Deontology Resources
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