Deontology

Deontology, contrasted with consequentialism, is the ethical belief that the distinction between right and wrong action is determined by the rules or principles set forth in a system, not by its consequences. Hence it is right to follow certain maxims in virtue of their rules/observance being intrinsically worthwhile. While following the rules or principles may have pleasant consequences, the adherence to the maxims is rather reliant upon a sense of duty to follow the rules because they are good in of themselves (especially in cases where the consequences might not be the best). For example, an individual who has a strong desire and inclination to donate to charity due to an internal, personal sentiment would make no more or less worthy an action than the individual who donates, maybe begrudgingly, because it is “their duty”. Deontologists highly stress doing an act solely because of its intrinsic worth, not because an individual’s sentiments may be opposed or favored to do it, or because of its consequences - which is what separates these views from consequentialist ones and stir a large debate. Deontological ethical theories have historically been primarily founded either on the power of a theistic God or by the supremacy of reason. There is great vocal and public support for deontological ethics, even though that exact title may not be claimed; for example, an individual saying that “murder is wrong, no matter what the case is” is practicing a deontological rule - by its being fundamentally non-consequentialist. However, there are critiques to the theory - the primary one being that deontology does not allow for flexibility in moral decisions. Nonetheless, it is one of the most ardently defended [class of] theories of ethical decision-making and one of the three main domains of ethical theories purported in entry-level philosophy classes. And though there are only five 'key figures', there are significantly much more deontologists than those since the term merely arose during the 1800's in specific to European philosophers like Jeremy Bentham and Kant; however, there have of course been (since then and definitely beforehand) philosophers who were distinctly anti-consequentialist and upheld immutable laws to obey.