DEONTOLOGY

JOSHUA CEDRIC AQUINO GUNDAYAO, MA, MOHRE

SOME PRELIMINARY NOTES
 SOME PRELIMINARY NOTES

¡ Deontologists believe that certain actions are

intrinsically morally right or wrong. That is, many actions
have the moral character they do by virtue of their own
nature, considered entirely apart from any good or bad
consequences they generate.
 SOME PRELIMINARY NOTES

¡ Kant argues that reason alone was capable of

discovering correct moral principles. He regarded such
principles as absolute, that is, as never permissibly
broken.
 SOME PRELIMINARY NOTES
¡ He considered consequences to be irrelevant in
determining the moral worth of actions and persons. He
thought that there was only one thing that was
unconditionally good, i.e., good in any and every
circumstance whatever – namely, a good will.
 SOME PRELIMINARY NOTES

¡ Kant argues that moral principles had a special status

among the dictates of reason. Moral principles are, in his
terms, categorical imperatives.
 SOME PRELIMINARY NOTES
¡ These are requirements of reason that apply to all
individuals, regardless of their contingent commitments.
They also, for Kant, are rationally compelling, in the
sense that those who violate them do so at the cost of
their own irrationality.
¡ Moral demands apply to us even if they fail to get us
what we want, or fail to promote our self-interest.
DEONTOLOGY
 DUTY-BASED ETHICS

¡ Called deontology.
¡ Focuses on the act and not its consequences.
 DUTY-BASED ETHICS

¡ Rules can be expressed in two ways

¡ Negatively (Do not)
¡ Positively
 DEONTOLOGICAL ETHICS

¡ Consequences do not matter.

¡ Intention is relevant. I am acting a certain way only if I
act for the right reason.
 BASIC ASSUMPTIONS

¡ No matter how morally good their consequences, some

choices are morally forbidden.
¡ What makes a choice right is its conformity with a
moral norm.
¡ The right is said to have priority over the Good.
 BASIC ASSUMPTIONS

¡ Actions that are morally right are those in accordance

with certain rules, duties, rights, or maxims.
 WHAT IS A MAXIM?

¡ A maxim is a principle that underlies or informs an act

or set of actions.
¡ E.g. Maxim: “Try to reduce world hunger.”
DEONTOLOGY VS OTHER VIRTUES

¡ Act Guidance vs Character Guidance (Virtue Ethics)

¡ Moral Norm vs Consequences (Consequentialism)
 EXAMPLES OF DEONTOLOGICAL
THEORIES

¡ Divine Command Theory

¡ “The Golden Rule”
¡ Natural Law
¡ Kantian Ethics
 1. DIVINE COMMAND THEORY
• It's the idea that we have a duty to obey God, and
therefore a duty to do or not do whatever God has
commanded us to do or not do.
• Divine Command Theory is a moral theory, and moral
theology, but, strictly speaking, it is not normative moral
philosophy
 1. DIVINE COMMAND THEORY
• Philosophy is defined as the systematic inquiry into the
nature of things (such as norms), based on logical
reasoning or rationality.
• Divine Command Theory has been variously categorized
as moral prescriptivism, as moral theology, and as
deontological ethics
 2. THE GOLDEN RULE

• Also known as the ethic of reciprocity, this famous

cross-cultural maxim states: "Do to others as you want
them to do to you."
• May seem like a useful maxim at first, but it has
limitations.
 3. NATURAL LAW

• Humans have reasoning and the Laws of Nature are

discernable by human reason.
• Humans are morally obligated to use reasoning to
discern what the laws are and then to act in conformity
with them.
 3. NATURAL LAW

• Humans have a natural drive to eat, drink, sleep and

procreate. These actions are in accord with a natural law
for species to survive and procreate
IMPERATIVES
IMPERATIVES

• An imperative is a command to act. It is prescriptive.

• Two kinds of imperatives: (1) Hypothetical and (2)
Categorical
HYPOTHETICAL IMPERATIVES

• Commands that are not absolute, but conditional, and

premised on one’s desires.
• If you want Y, you out to X
CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVES

• Absolute and unconditional moral commands.

• You ought X
GOOD WILL

• Acts solely out of reverence for Moral Law.

• He thought that there was only one thing that was
unconditionally good, i.e., good in any and every
circumstance whatever – namely, a good will.
GOOD WILL

• “It is impossible to think of anything at all in the world,

or indeed even beyond it, that could be considered good
without limitation except a good will.”
KANTIAN ETHICS
REASON & MORALITY

¡ Reason is not only the judge, but also the source of right
and wrong.
¡ Moral objectives exist and can be discerned through
reason.
¡ When properly used (guided by reason), will is good.
REASON & MORALITY

¡ Moral principles that meet the demands of reason are

always valid for everyone.
MORAL TRUTH & ETHICAL DUTY
¡ Moral truth stands by itself; it is autonomous and self-
contained.
¡ Ethical duty should not be based on the opinions of any
individual, group, tradition, etc.The sole basis is reason.
¡ Ethical duties are the same for all.
¡ Being good is a matter of reverence for duty
TYPES OF DUTIES

¡ Perfect Duties
¡ Kant also calls these strict or inflexible duties.
¡ There is no exemption.
¡ Never okay to break.
TYPES OF DUTIES

¡ Imperfect Duties
¡ Kant also calls these the laxer duties.
¡ These are duties such as the duty to help people in
need (beneficence), which do have exceptions.
AGAINST OTHER ETHICAL THEORIES

¡ A utilitarian would say that it is okay to use a person as

a means to an end if the end is good.
¡ Kant would argue that we should respect autonomy and
the dignity of persons. Therefore, a person cannot be
used as a means to and end without their consent.
AGAINST OTHER ETHICAL THEORIES
¡ (At utilitarianism) A good will is not good because of
what it effects or accomplishes … it is good in the
willing alone.
¡ (At Aristotelian ethics) Intelligence, courage, resolution,
determination … are good in many respects, but they
can be bad or hurtful when the will is not good …”
CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVES
CI1 –UNIVERSAL LAW

¡ “Act only on that maxim through which you can at the

same time will that it should become a universal law.”
¡ Universalizability = no contradictions
CI 2 – END IN ITSELF

¡ “Act in such a way that you always treat humanity,

whether in your own person or in the person of any
other, never simply as a means, but always at the same
time as an end.”
CI 3 – KINGDOM OF ENDS

¡ “Act always as if you were, through your maxims, a

lawmaking member of the moral community, bound to
obey laws you impose upon yourself and others.”
¡ Reason is both the source of moral law (legislator) and
the subject of the law (citizen).
DEONTOLOGY
JOSHUA CEDRIC AQUINO GUNDAYAO, MA, MOHRE