A person who has killed somebody or cheated or lied or has stolen something-how would you judge him/her?- Of course as something very WRONG. And how will you judge a person who is very kind, helpful, and makes lots of donations – something very moral or RIGHT.
So, we judge a person according to his/her action, an event, or a mistake despite having no details of the event. Why do we feel that we know something is right or something is just plain wrong?
Deontology is Derived from the Greek terms for “duty” and “science,” deontology is a philosophical concept that emphasizes adhering to an immutable moral law.
This notion is based on the belief that certain behaviors – like lying or stealing – are inherently wrong no matter what context they occur in.
From a deontological perspective, we should always strive to do what is ethically correct, even if it does not guarantee the desired results.
For instance, deontologists are steadfast in their belief that lying is inherently wrong, regardless of the possible outcome. Therefore, they would always consider telling a lie to be unethical and unacceptable under any circumstances.
What is Deontology?
Deontology is an ethical theory that uses rules to distinguish right from wrong. It places particular emphasis on the relationship between duty and the morality of human actions.
The term deontology is derived from the Greek deon, “duty,” and logos, “science.” It is only about following the rules and does not require weighing the costs and benefits of the situation.
Let’s check some daily-life examples of deontology ethics.
Real Life Examples Of Deontology
1. Do Not Kill
We all see killing or murdering as the wrongest human deed because we have been taught since our childhood that killing anybody including an animal is a wrong act.
For instance, if we find a killer in our society, we all will hate him and consider him wrong because he/she has killed somebody. But we do not know the details behind the situation. Maybe that person has killed another one in self-defense.
2. Do Not Steal
Stealing is also considered as a legal crime. We are taught not to steal anything or take anybody’s thing without asking them.
3. Religious Belief
Every person of a particular religion has to follow the rules and regulations of his religion. For example, If you’re a Hindu you might believe that it’s wrong to eat beef; this rule would be part of our deontology because we think it is wrong to eat beef.
4. Keeping Promises
If you have made a promise, you must keep it. For example, you might borrow money on the promise to pay it back, but you don’t intend to pay it back. So, making false promises is considered wrong.
5. Cheating
If someone cheats on us, we imagine that person as very wrong and untrustful because we think of cheating as wrong. For example, suppose you’re a software engineer and learn that a nuclear missile is about to launch that might start a war.
You can hack the network and cancel the launch, but it’s against your professional code of ethics to break into any software system without permission. And, it’s a form of lying and cheating. However, in letting the missile launch, thousands of people will die.
6. Do Not Lie
“Do not lie” is the most taught ethic by our parents, teachers, and everyone around us. Lying is considered wrong, even if it is to benefit or bring about better consequences.
7. Respect The Elders
Elders have to be respected. Respecting them is considered Right. If someone is found disrespecting them, (may have a genuine reason behind the disrespect) is considered as a bad person.
8. Honesty
Telling the truth no matter what, even if it may lead to unfavorable outcomes. So, it would be wrong if a boy lied about stealing a candy bar from the store.
9. Respect
Showing respect to others by honoring their wishes and beliefs, even if you disagree with them. If a friend asks you not to talk about a specific subject, it would be wrong to disregard this wish.
10. Responsibility
Taking responsibility for your actions and accepting the consequences, no matter how unfavorable. For instance, if you damage someone’s property, it would be wrong to try and hide the deed or blame someone else for your mistake.
11. Fairness
Making sure everyone is treated fairly, regardless of their race, religion, or gender. If a company is hiring new employees, it would be wrong to discriminate against any particular group of people.
12. Integrity
Being honest and consistent in your behavior and beliefs. It would be wrong to act one way with your friends and another way when you are around strangers.
13. Non-violence
Refraining from violence, even if it might lead to a desirable outcome. For example, beating up someone who has wronged you would be wrong no matter what the reason.
14. Gratitude
Showing appreciation for generosity and kindness, even if you don’t see the immediate benefit. For instance, when someone gives you a gift, it would be wrong not to say thank you or at least show appreciation.
15. Forgiveness
Letting go of anger and resentment, even if the other person doesn’t deserve it. If your friend betrays you, holding a grudge or taking revenge would be wrong.
16. Humility
Showing modesty and not taking credit for something you didn’t do. It would be wrong to take credit when your team produces a great result.
17. Moderation
Acting in moderation and not overindulging, even if it’s something you enjoy. So, if you like a cake, it would be wrong to overeat it and make yourself sick.
Origins Of Deontology
In other words, according to Kant, the morality of an action depends on whether it can be applied universally.
Later, Charlie Broad was credited with using the term deontological to describe its current, specialized definition in his 1930 book Five Types of Ethical Theory.
Before 1816, however, Jeremy Bentham had already coined the same word as a synonym for dicastic or censorial ethics. It was a type of moral philosophy that focused on judging the nature of an action rather than the results.
Today, deontology is widely accepted as a branch of moral philosophy that emphasizes the importance of upholding our duties and adhering to moral principles, regardless of any external influences or outcomes.
It emphasizes the importance of adhering to specific rules or principles, no matter what favorable outcomes may be produced along the way.
Deontology Vs. Utilitarianism
While deontology focuses on upholding specific rules or principles, utilitarianism focuses on producing the greatest amount of good.
Deontologists believe it is more important to adhere to moral principles than to pursue favorable outcomes, even if it means sacrificing certain benefits.
On the other hand, utilitarians think it is more critical to pursue favorable outcomes than adhere to certain principles or rules.
In a situation where the two solutions conflict, deontologists would say that it is more important to adhere to moral principles than to pursue favorable outcomes.
On the other hand, utilitarians would say that it is more important to pursue favorable outcomes.
So, while deontologists focus on upholding specific rules or principles, utilitarians focus on producing the greatest amount of good.
The two theories also differ in their approach to rule-following. Deontologists believe that rules should be followed regardless of the consequences. In contrast, utilitarians believe that rules should only be followed if the outcome is beneficial.
Simply, deontology and utilitarianism differ in their focus on moral principles versus the pursuit of favorable outcomes. Deontology upholds specific rules or principles, while utilitarianism focuses on producing the greatest amount of good.
Importance Of Deontology
Deontology is an important ethical system because it helps people understand why certain actions are right or wrong and how they should act morally.
Deontology emphasizes the importance of following certain rules or principles no matter what favorable outcomes may be produced along the way.
Deontology urges individuals to consider their behavior’s morality before deciding instead of reflecting on it afterward.
It is an important distinction since it prevents people from committing unethical acts that may yield desirable results but break moral standards.
For example, imagine a doctor who is faced with the choice to either save one patient’s life or save five patients’ lives.
The doctor should not decide based on the outcome but rather on whether it is moral to give up one life to save five. Therefore, the doctor should adhere to the moral principles at play in this situation and make her decision based on those.
Deontology prioritizes the motivation behind an action over any other factors. It holds that, even if the consequences of an action are positive, it is wrong to do something simply to achieve those results.
Overall, deontology encourages people to think critically about their actions and to strive to make ethical decisions that will lead to positive outcomes.
Deontology is a useful system for understanding morality and can help people stay on the right side of the ethical line.