Deontological

Definition

Deontological ethics is a normative ethical theory that judges the morality of an action based on the action's adherence to a rule or rules. It is commonly contrasted with consequentialist theories, which judge the morality of an action based on its consequences.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Deontological ethics focuses on the rightness or wrongness of actions themselves, rather than the consequences of those actions.
2. The primary principle in deontological ethics is the concept of duty, which states that we have a moral obligation to follow certain rules or principles.
3. Deontological theories, such as Kantian ethics, judge the morality of an action based on the action's adherence to universal moral rules or duties.
4. Deontological ethics is often associated with the idea of moral absolutism, which holds that there are certain moral absolutes that must be upheld regardless of the circumstances.
5. A key feature of deontological ethics is the belief that the ends do not justify the means, and that certain actions are inherently right or wrong regardless of their outcomes.

Review Questions

• Explain how deontological ethics differs from consequentialist ethics in its approach to evaluating the morality of actions.
  • Deontological ethics judges the morality of an action based on the action's adherence to a rule or set of rules, rather than the consequences of the action. This is in contrast to consequentialist ethics, which evaluates the morality of an action based on its outcomes or consequences. Deontological theories, such as Kantian ethics, hold that there are certain moral absolutes or duties that must be upheld regardless of the outcomes, while consequentialist theories judge the morality of an action based on whether it produces the best overall consequences.
• Describe the concept of the 'categorical imperative' and its role in Kantian deontological ethics.
  • The categorical imperative is a fundamental principle in Kantian deontological ethics that states an action is only moral if it could become a universal law of nature. This means that for an action to be considered moral, it must be something that could be willed as a universal law that everyone follows. The categorical imperative is a way of determining the morality of an action based on its adherence to a universal rule or duty, rather than its consequences. It is a key tenet of Kantian ethics and a defining feature of deontological approaches to ethics.
• Analyze how the concept of moral absolutism is connected to deontological ethics and its emphasis on moral rules or duties.
  • Deontological ethics is often associated with the idea of moral absolutism, which holds that there are certain moral absolutes or duties that must be upheld regardless of the circumstances or consequences. This is because deontological theories judge the morality of an action based on its adherence to these universal moral rules or principles, rather than the outcomes of the action. The belief in moral absolutes is a core tenet of deontological ethics, as it implies that there are certain actions that are inherently right or wrong, and that the ends do not justify the means. This emphasis on moral rules or duties over consequences is a defining feature of deontological approaches to ethics and its connection to moral absolutism.

Related terms

Duty-based Ethics: An ethical framework that judges the morality of an action based on the action's adherence to a rule or rules, rather than the action's consequences.

Categorical Imperative: A fundamental principle in Kantian deontological ethics that states an action is only moral if it could become a universal law of nature.

Moral Absolutism: The view that there are absolute moral rules that must be followed regardless of the consequences, a key tenet of deontological ethics.