deontology
Ethics of obligation
Deontology is the branch of ethics focused on duties and rules rather than consequences.
Where utilitarianism asks "What produces the best outcome?" deontology asks "What is my moral obligation?" An action may be right because it follows a rule—don't lie, keep promises—regardless of whether the outcome is favorable.
Kant's categorical imperative is the most influential deontological framework.
Required task or commitment
- responsibilityState of being answerable
- imperativeUnavoidably necessary
- ruleGoverning principle or standard
- lawBinding principle or regulation
norm · commitment · requirement · accountability · charge · role · allegiance · binding
Protected from transgression
- respectRegard with honor
- dignityInnate personal worth
- personsIndividual humans, plural
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
justice · fairness · entitlement · claim · trumps · boundaries · consent · non-interference
Rule governing behavior
- doctrineEstablished body of teachings
- canonAccepted authoritative works
- standardLevel of quality accepted
- maximBrief moral principle
criterion · guideline · prescription · proscription · prohibition · permission · rule-following · impartiality
Brief moral principle
- good-willFriendly, helpful attitude
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- phenomenalExceptionally impressive or unusual
- enlightenmentProfound spiritual awakening
Theory prioritizing mental processes
- non-cognitivismMoral statements lack truth-values
- objectivismBelief in external truths
- universalismDoctrine of total reconciliation
- constructivismActive knowledge-building theory
intuitionism · naturalism · foundationalism · rationalism · justification · grounding
Ethics judging by results
- utilitarianismGreatest-happiness moral theory
- teleologyStudy of purpose in nature
- outcome-basedAssessed by end results
- rule-basedFollowing set guidelines
obligation
Required task or commitment
- responsibilityState of being answerable
- imperativeUnavoidably necessary
- ruleGoverning principle or standard
law · norm · commitment · requirement · accountability · charge · role · allegiance · binding · compulsion
inviolability
Protected from transgression
autonomy · justice · fairness · entitlement · claim · trumps · boundaries · consent · non-interference · self-determination
precept
Rule governing behavior
- doctrineEstablished body of teachings
- canonAccepted authoritative works
- standardLevel of quality accepted
maxim · criterion · guideline · prescription · proscription · prohibition · permission · rule-following · impartiality · consistency
maxim
Brief moral principle
- good-willFriendly, helpful attitude
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- phenomenalExceptionally impressive or unusual
cognitivism
Theory prioritizing mental processes
- non-cognitivismMoral statements lack truth-values
- objectivismBelief in external truths
- universalismDoctrine of total reconciliation
constructivism · intuitionism · naturalism · foundationalism · rationalism · justification · grounding
consequentialism
Ethics judging by results
- utilitarianismGreatest-happiness moral theory
- teleologyStudy of purpose in nature
- outcome-basedAssessed by end results
- moralitymoral, moral values, immoral, moral principles, moral code
- normsnorm, norms, standard, social norms, rule
- ethicsmorality, dignity, sanctity of life, utilitarianism, morals
- moral philosophymoral philosophy, moral judgment, moral reasoning, moral principles, moral conduct
- philosophiesempiricism, stoicism, nihilism, idealism, materialism
- philosophyethics, logic, metaphysics, ontology, epistemology
deontologyconsequentialism
Ethics judging by results
utilitarianism · situational ethics · moral relativism · hedonism · welfarism