Deontological ethics focuses on moral duties and rules, emphasizing that actions are right or wrong regardless of consequences. This approach, championed by Immanuel Kant, judges the morality of actions based on their inherent nature rather than outcomes.

Kant's Categorical Imperative is central to deontological ethics, providing a framework for ethical decision-making. It asks us to act only according to rules we could will as universal laws, treating humanity as ends in themselves, not means to an end.

Deontological Ethics

Core principles of deontological ethics

• Duty-based ethical framework emphasizes adherence to moral rules and obligations regardless of consequences
• Actions judged as right or wrong based on inherent nature of the act itself, not outcomes (lying always wrong)
• Moral duties derived from reason are universally binding, irrespective of individual circumstances or desires (promise-keeping)
• Respect for persons as ends in themselves, not merely means to an end (human dignity)
• Importance of good will and acting from a sense of moral duty rather than self-interest (helping others)
• Moral rules must be universalizable and consistently applied to all (fairness, equality)
• Emphasis on rationalism as the basis for deriving moral principles

Kant's Categorical Imperative in decision-making

• Immanuel Kant's Categorical Imperative is a central concept in deontological ethics
  • Unconditional, absolute, and universally binding moral law (supreme principle of morality)
  • Three main formulations:
    1. Universal Law Formulation: "Act only according to that maxim whereby you can, at the same time, will that it should become a universal law" (lying, stealing)
    2. Humanity Formulation: "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" (respect, dignity)
    3. Kingdom of Ends Formulation: "Therefore, every rational being must so act as if he were through his maxim always a legislating member in the universal kingdom of ends" (autonomy, reciprocity)
• Applying the Categorical Imperative in ethical decision-making involves:
  • Formulating a maxim (subjective principle of action) for the proposed action (helping a friend cheat)
  • Testing the maxim against the three formulations to determine moral permissibility
    • Can the maxim be universalized without contradiction? (cheating as a universal law)
    • Does the action respect inherent dignity of all persons involved? (using friend as means to an end)
    • Would the action be acceptable in a hypothetical "kingdom of ends" where all rational beings are treated as ends in themselves? (reciprocity test)

Kantian deontology vs other duty-based theories

• Kantian deontology is a specific type of duty-based ethics, but other theories also emphasize moral duties:
  • Divine Command Theory: Moral duties derived from commands of a divine being (Ten Commandments)
  • Natural Law Theory: Moral duties derived from inherent nature and purpose of human beings (human flourishing)
  • Prima Facie Duties (W.D. Ross): Multiple, sometimes conflicting, moral duties weighed against each other in specific situations (fidelity vs beneficence)
• Key differences between Kantian deontology and other duty-based theories:
  • Kant's emphasis on the Categorical Imperative as supreme principle of morality (universal law)
  • Kant's focus on inherent dignity of persons and importance of treating them as ends in themselves (humanity formulation)
  • Kant's rejection of consequentialism - idea that ends can justify means (lying to save a life)
  • Specific duties and their justification may differ between theories (divine commands vs natural law)

Kantian concepts of duty and moral law

• Good will as the foundation of moral action
• Moral law as the guiding principle for ethical behavior
• Perfect duties as absolute moral obligations (never lie)
• Imperfect duties as general ethical guidelines (help others when possible)
• Moral absolutism as a key feature of Kantian ethics