Immanuel Kant's Ethical Theory Of Duty-Based Ethics
Description
Duty-based ethics commonly known as Deontology is an ethical theory that uses rules to distinguish right from wrong. As a deontologist you focus more on the action in itself disregarding the consequences it produces. Immanuel kant the founder deontology, was a german philosopher who believed that morality and religion should be kept apart, therefore he created the philosophical concept “categorical imperative” or “CI”. Categorical imperative is a moral law, which must be followed and is not be violated no matter the motive or outcome.
Commonly known CI’s in deontology is that it is wrong to steal, lie, cheat and kill innocent people. A deontologist must act according to the CI even if it produces more harm than good. As an example kant himself thought that it would be wrong to tell a lie to save a life.
Imagine that you and your friend are having a nice lunch in your house, you hear a knock on the door and get up to answer, You open the door only to meet a stranger with a gun in their hand. The stranger asks you if you know where you friend is. As a deontologist you would be morally obliged to tell the truth disregarding the fact that your friend will die.
Autonomy is the right or condition to self governance. …show more content…
In both philosophies it is deemed immoral not to help. A Utilitarian would without hesitation sacrifice ten individuals in order to save 15 others, deontologists would not sacrifice ten people as that would be seen as murder which goes against their moral obligations namely the CI. Deontology is more equal than utilitarianism because every individual life counts as equal. In utilitarianism however it is more about the numbers. Compared to utilitarianism deontology is more
Duty-based ethics commonly known as Deontology is an ethical theory that uses rules to distinguish right from wrong. As a deontologist you focus more on the action in itself disregarding the consequences it produces. Immanuel kant the founder deontology, was a german philosopher who believed that morality and religion should be kept apart, therefore he created the philosophical concept “categorical imperative” or “CI”. Categorical imperative is a moral law, which must be followed and is not be violated no matter the motive or outcome.
Commonly known CI’s in deontology is that it is wrong to steal, lie, cheat and kill innocent people. A deontologist must act according to the CI even if it produces more harm than good. As an example kant himself thought that it would be wrong to tell a lie to save a life.
Imagine that you and your friend are having a nice lunch in your house, you hear a knock on the door and get up to answer, You open the door only to meet a stranger with a gun in their hand. The stranger asks you if you know where you friend is. As a deontologist you would be morally obliged to tell the truth disregarding the fact that your friend will die.
Autonomy is the right or condition to self governance. …show more content…
In both philosophies it is deemed immoral not to help. A Utilitarian would without hesitation sacrifice ten individuals in order to save 15 others, deontologists would not sacrifice ten people as that would be seen as murder which goes against their moral obligations namely the CI. Deontology is more equal than utilitarianism because every individual life counts as equal. In utilitarianism however it is more about the numbers. Compared to utilitarianism deontology is more