deontology
/ˌdiːɒnˈtɒlədʒi
/noun [mass noun] Philosophy
The study of the nature of duty and obligation.While both deontologists and rule - utilitarians are rule-followers, deontology explicitly stresses duty and intention rather than outcome, whereas the ultimate focus of rule-utilitarianism is on consequences....
- Another problem for virtue ethics, which is shared by both utilitarianism and deontology, is ‘the justification problem.’
- There are two main categories of deontological theories in the literature: rule deontology and act deontology.
Derivatives
deontological
- Classic utilitarianism is consequentialist as opposed to deontological because of what it denies.
- This distinction mirrors a major fault line in ethics between what are known as consequentialist and deontological theories.
- As with many hybrid views, the deontological and consequentialist components tend to pull apart, with each threatening to subordinate the other.
deontologist
- So, for example, a deontologist such as Immanuel Kant might say that lying is always morally wrong, even when it results in a greater good.
- Many of the leading approaches are commonly grouped into competing camps of deontologists and Kantians on the one hand and consequentialists or utilitarians on the other.
- When asked to justify an alleged moral rule, duty or its corresponding right, deontologists may appeal to the intrinsic value of those beings to whom it applies.
Origin
Early 19th century: from Greek deont- 'being needed or necessary' (from dei 'it is necessary') + -logy.