The Ethical Theory Of Deontology

The word deontology comes from the Greek word “deontos” which means duty (Adams, 2011). Deontology can be defined as doing what is morally correct regardless of the final results as long as they abide by the moral principles. Certain actions, like lying, are never allowed regardless if its outcomes benefit the purpose and no harm is caused. The theory states that whether an action is ethical and follows the moral rules, depends on the intentions behind the decisions (Pieper, 2008). So for an action to be “good” and morally right, it must have been performed at goodwill and abide to moral values.

The Deontology theory is one that I find quite interesting. I had never heard of it before I read the book. This philosophy describes a rational being and what it entails. As nurses we feel a sense of duty to our patients and this philosophy divulges into how duties and laws are set in stone and cannot be changed. We will always feel a certain duty to patients that will never waiver. There are two different duties that Immanuel Kant, the most influential philosopher with deontology, brought up, and they are the hypothetical imperative and the categorical imperative. The hypothetical imperative is an optional duty that is suggested so that an outcome can be achieved. (Butts & Rich, 2016) The example that the book gives for this is “If I want to become a nurse, then I have to study during school more” (Butts & Rich, 2016, p. 21), and I think this is an incredible example. The optional part of this is the studying. Obviously, if someone does

Deontology is an ethical theory concerned with duties and rights. The founder of deontological ethics was a German philosopher named Immanuel Kant. Kant’s deontological perspective implies people are sensitive to moral duties that require or prohibit certain behaviors, irrespective of the consequences (Tanner, Medin, & Iliev, 2008). The main focus of deontology is duty: deontology is derived from the Greek word deon, meaning duty. A duty is morally mandated action, for instance, the duty never to lie and always to keep your word. Based on Kant, even when individuals do not want to act on duty they are ethically obligated to do so (Rich, 2008).

Each action we take as humans determines our personal character and ethical theories guide us and teach us right from wrong (Mosser, 2013).

Deontology or also know as Deontology ethics is an approach that is taken that determines the goodness and rightness of a specific act or rules and duties that a specific person has to perform. Deontology is the complete opposite of consequentialism. Consequentialism is the where the outcome of an act has a major influence and not the actual act itself. In better words it is what comes after the action that is made and not the action itself. As for deontology an action can be considered right or something acceptable even if the outcome of the action is something bad. A perfect example for deontology would be “ do onto others what you would have them do onto you.” This is just something that

Deontology is an ethical position that examines the morality of an action based on the action’s adherence to rule or rules. Many times is described as obligation or rule based ethics (Alexander). Therefore, the only actions that are considered moral are those that are performed solely for one’s duty to the moral law rather than one’s desire. Deontology is the school of thought that Kant comes from. Immanuel Kant was a critical figure in philosophy in the modern age. His work was the foundation of the most famous form of Deontology.

This ethical theory is mostly associated with its progenitor, Immanuel Kant, although other forms of deontology exist such as moral absolutism, divine command theory and contemporary

According to Plato in an ideal society the ruler should be paid no more than four times what the lowest member of that society get paid. In 2012 the CEO compensation pay was 354 times average salary of a CEO for example Thomas Montag CEO of Bank of America received nearly 30 million dollars, Lloyd Blankfein, CEO of Goldman Sachs and Walid Chammah, CEO of Morgan Stanley were each given about $10 million in compensation during the financial crisis. The CEO of these financial institution steered the United States into worst economic crisis since the Great Depression which lead to lose of millions of jobs, homes and retirement savings.

With this theory Michael Boylan explains that, “no calculations, such as consequences of the action can be measured.” The act should only be based on duty and must be consistent with their absolutism. This may lead to the action of a deontologist turning out morally wrong. This theory often contradicts the other ethical theory utilitarianism. Michael Boylan explains that, “ the result of deontology acts on the moral of command rather than the possibility of the greater good”.

The theory states one is morally obligated to act in accordance with certain set of principles and rules regardless of outcome. Within religious deontology, the principles derive from divine commandments so under religious laws one is not obligated to steal, cheat, or lie. Opposed to religious deontology, the rules or maxims in Kant’s deontological theory comes from human reason. In Immanuel Kant publication, The Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals, Kant is able to supply his readers with morality being derived from the principle of the categorical imperative. Kant introduced this imperative as for one is able to distinguish if their actions are based on self-interest or are purely

Culture and Ethics People of different cultures live harmoniously and peacefully because they have agreed to live by the laid down rules that thin down to ethics and morality. Ethical theories explain how individuals should behave amongst themselves. Therefore, the justification of this discussion is to provide the comparison and differences between utilitarianism, virtue theory, and deontological ethics. In addition, it will conclude with my personal experience by relating virtues, values, and moral concepts of the virtue theories, utilitarianism, and deontological ethics. Virtue Theory Virtue ethics is defined as a person’s character traits determined by the characteristics they represent either bad or good or still between the two.

Kant believes that all people come to moral conclusions about right and wrong based on rational thought. Deontological moral systems are characterized by a focus upon adherence to independent moral rules or duties. To make the correct moral choices, we have to understand what our moral duties are and what correct rules exist to regulate those duties. When we follow our duty, we are behaving morally. When we fail to follow our duty, we are behaving immorally. Deontological moral systems typically stress the reasons why certain actions are performed. Simply following the correct moral rules is often not sufficient; instead, we have to have the correct motivations. This might allow a person to not be considered immoral even though they have broken a moral rule, but only so long as they were motivated to adhere to some correct moral duty. Nevertheless, a correct motivation alone is never a justification for an action in a deontological moral system and cannot be used as a basis for describing an action as morally correct. It is also not enough to simply believe that something is the correct duty to follow. Duties and obligations must be determined objectively and absolutely, not subjectively. There is no room in deontological systems of subjective feelings; on the contrary, most adherents condemn subjectivism and relativism in all their forms.

In the late 18th century one of the most influential philosophers by the name of Immanuel Kant introduced the third major ethical philosophy, Deontology. The basis behind Deontology is that people are duty bound to act morally by certain standards despite the outcome. Determining whether a person’s actions are morally right involves look at the intent of the actions. Like other ethic theories, Deontologist applies the golden rule of treating other people the way you would want them to treat you. Deontology can be broken down into three different theories: agent-centered, patient centered, and contractualist. Each branch of Deontology can be traced back in some way to Immanuel Kant. Can Deontology be applied to today’s society?

2.     Divine Command Theory: This theory is categorized as a deontological theory because the premises is that there is a God and one set of divine rules. If an individual adheres to the divine rules than he/she is morally and ethically correct, regardless of the consequences of his/her actions.

The word deontology is derived from the Greek words deon, meaning duty or obligation, and logos, meaning science or study. This school of ethics looks at the acts we attempt to do, and holds that right becomes before good. This means that if an act is not right, it may not be undertaken, no matter how much good it produces; an act is judged not on its consequences but whether or not it follows from one’s duty. Deontology recognizes two different types of imperatives; hypothetical and categorical. The categorical imperative is the deontological way of doing ethics. An example of an hypothetical imperative is “if I want to have white teeth, then I should brush my teeth”, and example of a categorical imperative is “I should brush my teeth”. According to Kant one should act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law without contradiction. This means that when you want to steal something you should think about it as a universal law, and thereby give other people the right to steal from you. However, if stealing would be an universal law then private property would be impossible and you would be unable to steal. This is a contradiction, and the general rule in deontology therefore is that stealing is morally