DEONTOLOGY ASSUMPTIONS AND STAND OR

- Is an ethical theory that says BELIEFS IN DEONTOLOGY

actions are good or bad - Despite how morally good the
according to a clear set of outcomes or consequences of
rules. an action, some choices are
- Study of obligations. morally forbidden.
- Came from the Greek word - The choice is right if it conforms
deon meaning duty and logos with a moral norm.
meaning speaking or study. - Intention is relevant. “I am
- If the actions align with the acting a certain way only if I
rules, it is considered ethical, act for the right reason.”
while actions that do not are - The right is mostly of priority
not ethical. over what is good. If an act
- A category of normative ethics does not conform with the
where it encompasses other right, it should not be done no
theories by primarily being matter how good its outcome
concerned to adhere with the may be.
rules.
Good Points
RULES CAN BE EXPRESSED INTO TWO: - Emphasizes equality or the
Positive Rules value of every human-being.
- Do not lie - Provides more certainty in
individual situations.
Negative Rules - Gives importance to motives.
- Tell the truth
Bad Points
TWO CONCEPTS OF DUTY - Pushes for moral absolutism.
Adolf Eichmann - Allow actions that produce
- Following orders. unwanted reactions.
- Hard to reconcile conflicting
Immanuel Kant duties.
- Imposing obligation on one’s
own will and feelings. DEONTOLOGY VS OTHER ETHICAL
THEORIES
TWO TYPES OF DUTY ACC. TO Deontology vs Consequentialism
IMMANUEL KANT - Deontology (or Deontological
Perfect Duty Ethics) is an approach to
- Duties that must always be ethics that focuses on the
fulfilled without exception. rightness or wrongness of
actions themselves, which is
Imperfect Duty seen as strongly opposed to
- Duties that should generally be consequentialism where the
fulfilled but allow for some focus is the rightness or
discretion in how they are wrongness of the
carried out. consequences of those
actions.
In Deontological Ethics: AGENT-CENTERED AND PATIEINT-
- Hold that an action’s rightness CENTERED DEONTOLOGY
or wrongness depends on its Agent-Centered Deontology
conformity to a certain moral - Focuses on the moral duties
norm regardless of the and principles that guide the
consequences. actions of the moral agent
- The consequences of actions (the person making the
are not as important as decision or taking the action).
whether they follow these rules - Agent-Relative Duties - act
or duties. that is relative to the individual
- Certain actions are considered duties of the agent. Ex: duty to
right or wrong, no matter what family and interest.
happens because they either - Agent-Neutral Duties - act is
adhere to or violate these rules. the same for every agent. Ex:
duty to follow the law.
KEYWORDS
Maxim Patient-Centered Deontology
- A principle that underlies or - This approach emphasizes the
informs an act or set of actions. moral worth and rights of the
- Action could satisfy the maxim individuals affected by an
of principle. action or decisions.
- The primary consideration is
Moral Absolutism the well-being, autonomy, and
- Some actions are wrong no rights of the person or persons
matter what consequence directly involved.
they bring. - This perspective often
- Connected to deontology. prioritizes actions that respect
the autonomy and dignity of
Moral Relativism individuals. Even if it means
- Holds that sometime the violating certain moral rules or
consequences of an action duties.
makes the action tight.
- Connected to EXAMPLES THAT DEONTOLOGY IS
consequentialism. APPLIED
Divine Command Theory
Reason - This theory states that an act is
- Intervenes between impulse ethically correct if it is in
and act. accordance with the
- The ability to stop and think commandments or will of a
about what we are doing and divine entity or power.
 One example of divine
evaluate actions.
theory is the ten
commandments.

The Golden Rule

- “Do to others as you want
them to do to you.”
Natural Law & Natural Rights Theory justice and legality overrides
- Implies that moral principles the potential negative
are innate to human nature consequences for others.
and reason, and that this law is
guided by human action. WHO IS THE MAIN PROPONENT IN
- Humans are morally obligated THIS THEORY?
to use reasoning to discern IMMANUEL KANT
what the laws are and then to - “Good will acts solely out of
act in conformity with them. reverence for moral law.”
- Thus activities in conformity - Intends to develop what he
with such a law are morally calls the “Supreme principle of
good. morality.”
- Activities that work against - First philosopher to advance a
that law are morally wrong. deontological approach, he
 Example, consider that to has influenced contemporary
eat too much or too little and philosophy significantly in
place life in jeopardy is areas such as aesthetics,
morally wrong.
political philosophy, and ethics.
- Kant argued that the moral
Kantian Ethics
law is a truth of reason, and
- This theory was developed by hence that all rational
the German Philosopher creatures are bound by the
Immanuel Kant. same moral law.
- Kant argued that it was not
the consequences of actions
- If by lying you could prevent that make them right or wrong,
harm to an innocent person, but the motives of the person
deontology still insists on truth- who carries out the action.
telling because lying is
- As an ethics of duty, Kant
inherently wrong.
believes that ethics consists of
commands about what we
- You would tell the truth, as the ought to do.
act’s morality is determined by
adherence to the rule (e.g., Rationality
“Do not lie”), not by the
- Consists of the mental faculty
potential consequences of
to construct ideas and
telling the truth.
thoughts that are beyond our
immediate surroundings. This is
the capacity for mental
- You discover illegal activities at abstraction, which arises from
your workplace. Reporting the operations of the faculty of
these might lead to job loss for reason.
many, including innocent
coworkers. Rational Will
- The faculty of human being
- You report the illegal activities which is the capacity to act
because you duty to uphold
 according to principles that their duty and act in
we determine for ourselves. accordance with moral law.
- The central construct of moral
We are encouraged to have law is categorized imperative.
courage to think on our own, to
use our rational will against ACCORDING TO KANT:
external authorities as well as Reason & Morality
internal base impulses that tend to - Reason is not only the judge,
undetermined our autonomy and but also the source of right
self-determination. and wrong.
- RATIONALITY is what allows
Man Has Sensible Impulses humans to be moral beings.
- Bodily instincts and Desires - - Moral objectives exist and can
eat, sleep, drink, have sexual be discerned through reason.
intercourse. - When properly used (rationally
- Emotions and Sentiments - guided), will is good.
rage, jealousy, sadness. - Moral principles that meet the
demands of reason are always
Duties are categorized into 2: valid for everyone.
- Perfect Duty - inflexible duty
with no middle grounds; it is Moral Truth & Ethical Duty
never okay to break. - Moral truth stands by itself; it is
- Imperfect Duty - laxer duties autonomous and self-
and has middle grounds. contained.
- Ethical duty should not be
Kant’s Rejection On: based on the opinions of any
- Utilitarianism - “A good will is individual, group, tradition,
not good because of what it faith, cultural norm or even
affects or accomplishes, it is God’s will. They should be
good in the willing alone.” based on reason.
- Aristotelian Virtues - - Ethical duties are the same for
“Intelligence, courage, all.
resolution, determination are - Being good is a matter of
good in many respects, but reverence for duty.
they can be bad or hurtful
when the will is not good.” Ex. IMPERATIVES
Adolf Hitler. Imperatives
- A command to act.
KANTIAN ETHICS
- It is prescriptive.
Goodwill
- What makes someone happy C1: Universability / Formula of
is not necessarily good Universal Law
(utilitarianism), and good is not
- “Act only to that maxim
dependent on the outcome,
whereby you can at the same
but what is good is to follow
time will that it should become
a universal law.”
- You should act the way you Categorical (definite) Imperatives
would want everyone to act - Absolute and unconditional
the same way. moral commands.
- For the sake of duty alone.
C2: Treat humanity as an end itself - Example:
and never as simply as a means  You need to study.
- "Act in such a way that you
always treat humanity, PROBLEMS AND STRENGTHS OF
whether in your own person or KANTIAN ETHICS
in the person of any other,
never simply as a means, but  Disregards consequences.
always at the same time as an  Duties can conflict.
end."  Not all situations are the same
- A being should never be used thus not all actions are the
by someone else to fulfill same - moral actions cannot
another end, rather they be absolute.
should be considered ends  Hyper-rationality and lack of
themselves and be treated as emotion.
people. Example is slavery.  The irrelevance of inclination
(no such thing as extenuating
C3: Kingdom of Ends circumstances.
- “Act always as if you were,  Overly formal and universal -
through your maxims, a most of our duties are in social
lawmaking member of the roles. f r l i rs l - st f r ti s r i s i l r l
moral community, bound to
obey the laws you impose
upon yourself and others."  Realm of duty, free from utility
- Reason is both the source of  Respect for persons.
moral law (legislator) and  Golden rule – do unto others,
subject of the law (citizen). expressed in rational terms.
- Everyone is a lawmaker and  Reason-based.
must act according to the
laws we make.

If the action passes through the 3

imperatives, it is morally right.

2 KINDS OF IMPERATIVES:
Hypothetical Imperatives
- commands that are not
absolute, but conditional, and
premised on one’s desire.
- Acting to receive a reward.
- Example:
 If you want to pass a test,
you need to study.