noun
- the study of moral duty and obligation; ethical theory focused on rules and duties rather than consequences
Usage: philosophy
Examples
- Kant’s deontology emphasizes acting according to moral rules regardless of outcomes.
- In deontology, lying is wrong even if it produces good results.
- The philosophy course covered deontology alongside other ethical theories.
- Medical ethics often draws from deontology when establishing professional duties.
- Deontology differs from utilitarianism in its focus on moral rules rather than consequences.
- Students struggled to understand the complexities of deontological reasoning.