What is deontological ethics?

Deontological ethics is an ethical framework that prioritizes the adherence to duties, rules, and obligations when making moral decisions. This approach asserts that certain actions are inherently right or wrong, regardless of the consequences they produce. For instance, deontological theorists would argue that one has a moral obligation to tell the truth and uphold commitments, even if doing so might lead to negative outcomes.

This ethical stance contrasts sharply with consequentialism, which focuses on the outcomes of actions to determine their moral value, and with situational ethics, which advocates for flexible ethical decision-making based on individual circumstances rather than fixed rules. Similarly, basing ethics solely on emotional responses lacks the structured approach that deontological ethics embodies, as emotions can be subjective and variable.

In essence, deontological ethics emphasizes the importance of moral duties and the principles that guide our decisions, distinguishing it as a foundational theory in moral philosophy.