You are on page 1of 13

Final grading period

 Deontological ethics or deontology is the


normative ethical theory that the morality of an
action should be based on whether that action
itself is right or wrong under a series of rules,
rather than based on the consequences of the
action.
 Hence, deontological ethics is based-duty. As a
matter of fact deontology comes from the
Greek word deon, means duty and logos
means science.

Morality is a matter of Duty.

Actions are right or wrong in themselves, regardless
of their consequences.

We each have duties regarding our own actions
 Immanuel Kant was a
German philosopher
(1724-1804)in the
Modern Western
 Philosophy.
 Father of Deontology
telling the truth is always
“right” and telling a lie is
 always “wrong”.
Follow universal law such
as “don’t lie”, “don’t
steal”, ”don’t cheat”.
PRINCIPLE OF
PRINCIPLE OF HUMANITY
UNIVERSALITY
“Act only on that maxim through “Act in such a way whether in your own person or in
which you can at the same time, will the person of any other , never simply a means but
it should become universal law”. always at the same time as an end.”
 Man should only perform  Man is not a means to an end: he is an
only those actions that end in himself.
have universal  This principle of humanity however, is
repercussions. for Kant not derived from experience.
 Therefore, one should not  It calls for man’s unconditional respect to
perform acts that cannot . his fellowmen
be universalized. “the end doesn’t justify the means”
HYPOTHETICAL CATEGORICAL
 
If I want X, then I ought to do “Y”. “I ought to do “Y”.

Example: If I want to pass my examination, Example: I ought not to murder people.


I ought to attend the lecture. 
Absolute moral truths –true for all the
 people for all times.
Consequences driven. Desires based. 
Duty driven.
FIRST SECOND THIRD
A moral choice Our reason gives us The principle must
must be a rational universal and be in the form of a
decision since necessary principles command or
morality involves of mathematics, imperative since
what is necessary principles of logic, morality involves
for us to do, and and, in this case, a commands Four
only rational principle of main
dutiestypes of moral
considerations are morality
necessary.
1."Whenever I believe myself short of money, I will borrow
money and promise to pay it back, though I know that this will
never be done”.

If such deceit were followed universally, then the whole
institution of promising would be undermined and I could not
make my promise to begin with.
2. “It is wrong for me to kill myself when misfortunes Push me to
the point of despair”.

The maxim of this action is "From self-love I make it my
principle
than to shorten
it promises my life if its continuance threatens more evil
pleasure."
3.” I must develop my talents rather than let them waste away. “
 Kant concedes that this maxim by itself is not contradictory since
in theory everyone could become an idle slug.
4.” It is wrong to be uncharitable.”

A contradiction arises when I willfully assert this maxim while at
the same time acknowledging my inherent rational obligation to
receive charity when I am in Good will.
 In Kant’s terms, A good will is one whose decisions are entirely
influenced by moral imperatives, or, as he frequently refers to it,
the Moral Law. Human beings will inevitably perceive this Law
as a restraint on their inherent impulses, which is why such laws
are imperatives and responsibilities when applied to humans.

You might also like