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Deontological Ethics
Common objection to the reasoning inherent in the deontological ethical theory
Consequentialist and non-consequentialist theories
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Deontology states there are certain things we should never do, such as torturing another man. Edmonds argues that DDE can only be uses when two situations will have similar endings. The author introduces the deontology equivalent: the difference between doing and allowing, and acting and omitting. Edmond concludes that there is no moral difference in killing someone and allowing them do die by doing nothing. Thus the Doctrine of Triple Effect (DTE) was created.
Deontology, however, views the motive behind
Deontology is defined as an 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. Case in point, the physician who cleared the quarterback to play thought more about the consequences of his decision (the team winning) than what was in the best interest of the player (his duty as a physician). He was clearly in the wrong and in my opinion, he made an unethical decision. According to the International Federation of Sports Medicine ethics code, the team physician has the “responsibility […] to determine whether the injured athletes should continue training or participate in competition”.
For instance, one would not lie no matter the situation or consequence. In addition, if the consequence was bad, then it would not be the moral agent’s fault for what someone else does. In contrast, this strength can also be a weakness. An argument against deontology consists of a thought experiment about lying. If a person that desires to kill your brother knocks on your door and asks if your brother is inside.
Deontology Absolute rules and duty shadowed harsh or good penalties highlighted in specific Deontologists occasions. One shall not bring fiction to their life. To presume one’s wishes to treat individuals would be by means to increase individual’s happiness. These goals are to some extent vague and open to many interpretations in specific circumstances. One may attempt to outline a sphere of freedom where individuals act spontaneously in accordance to their own judgment, in respects to essential set rights of individuals, count on the possessions, freedom, and natural life rights.
If a man kills someone than in consequentialism the rightness or wrongness of killing must be explained by its consequences : if it has good consequences then it may be right to kill on the other hand ,if has bad consequences then it may be wrong to kill while in deontology the rightness or wrongness of killing cannot be explained simply by its consequeces. The action of killing is wrong in itself, independently of whether they have good consequences. Relativist vs. objectivist According to ethical relativism, whatever you think is right for you really is right for you, and no one can tell you any differently. while ethical objectivism there are such moral values and rules that require one to be honest, just , faithful, among others and such other rules requiring one not to steal, kill, torture.
This argument might surprise those who think of consequentialism as counterintuitive, but in fact, consequentialists can explain many moral intuitions that trouble deontological theories. Moderate deontologists, for example, often judge that it is morally wrong to kill one person to save five but not morally wrong to kill one person to save a million. They never specify the line between what is morally wrong and what is not morally wrong, and it is hard to imagine any non-arbitrary way for deontologists to justify a cutoff point. In contrast, consequentialists can simply say that the line belongs wherever the benefits outweigh the costs (including any bad side effects). Similarly, when two promises conflict, it often seems clear which one we should keep, and that intuition can often be explained by the amount of harm that would be caused by breaking each promise.
In contrast to utilitarianism and other teleological approaches to moral reasoning, the deontological approach does not focus on the end result or the consequences of one’s actions. Instead, deontologists would argue that behaviors are morally just or unjust solely based on the behavior itself, separate from the chain reaction it initiates. Deontologists, as shown through the work of Kant, believe that morality and rationality are one in the same. There are three components that make up a moral action, according to Kant’s Categorical Imperative: first, the action must be universally moral, second, the action must treat other rational beings as ends themselves, rather than as means, and third, the action must be allowable for rational beings.
One objection to Kantian deontology is that it does not propose a solution where two absolute duties conflict with each other. As previously stated, according to Kant, duties are absolute moral rules and the objective morality grounds on this feature of duties. However, this absolutism leads to possible conflict of duties and Kantian deontology does not provide a form for this kind of situations. For instance, I borrow a pocket knife from my friend and I promise to give it back when she wants back.
The divine command theory, utilitarianism, Kant’s duty defined morality, natural law theory, and Aristotle’s virtue ethics are the five types of ethical theories. The divine command theory states that what is morally right and wrong will be decided by God. Utilitarianism states that “Action “A” is morally right if and only if it produces the greatest amount of overall happiness. Kant’s duty defined morality states that what is important is acting for the sake of producing good consequences, no matter what the act is. Natural law theory states that people should focus on the good and avoid any evil.
As a Kantian, the ultimate goal is to focus on our maxims and not on how much pain or pleasure the act could possibly produce. So as a result, Kant would argue that Jim should not kill the Indian man, even if it would save the other Indian men. The reason why is because Kant does not believe in using people as mere means, it wouldn’t be considered a conceivable maxim, and it would be betraying a perfect duty. The definition of deontology is having the belief that you do what’s right because you have a moral duty.
Hence, a police officer’s duty then is to do the right act as approved by moral standards. Therefore, deontological ethics are duty based. Non-consequentialist ethics are divided into two standpoints; act non-consequentialism and rule non-consequentialism. Act non-consequentialism or intuitionism is described as the act of following one’s intuition in order to determine the morality in a particular situation. However, rule non-consequentialism explains that people should follow the rules that are the basis of morality where the consequences are given less importance.
Deontology and Utilitarianism are similar in that the tenets of each aims at promoting the well-being of others by doing good. However, there are several differences between Deontology and Utilitarianism. Deontology focuses on the moral intention of an act.
The theory of deontology states we are morally obligated to act in accordance with obvious set of principles and rules regardless of results. Deontological ethics focuses on duties, and rights. The term deontological was coined by the utilitarian philosopher Jeremy Bentham, who described it as “knowledge of what is right or proper” Bentham thought that deontology points in the direction of principle of utility. But contemporary philosophers use the term deontological to indicate a contrast with the utilitarian focus on the consequences of action. Instead of focusing on consequences, deontological ethics focus on duties and obligation: things we ought to do regardless of the consequences.
Margarita Rodriguez Philosophy of Nursing Millers College of Nursing October 16, 2015 How does deontology relate to an individual nurse?s professional practice of nursing? According to the American Nurses Association, Deontology, an ethical theory founded by Immanuel Kant, applies judgments based on the underlying morality, or the rightness or wrongness of an action. It is based upon adherence to rules.
