Deontological Ethics
of
Immanuel Kant
Tanvir Ahmed
Lecturer | School of General Education (GenEd)
BRAC University
Email: ahmed.tanvir1@bracu.ac.bd
Topics
• What is Deontological Ethics?
• Deontological Ethics VS. Teleological Ethics
• Deontology VS. Ethics of Duty
• Kantian Moral Philosophy
What is Deontological Ethics?
• Kant’s theory of ethics is best described as a deontological
theory.
• The word deontology means “theory of duty” (the Greek word
deon means “duty”).
• Deontological ethics focuses on duties, obligations, and rights.
The term deontological was coined by the utilitarian philosopher
Jeremy Bentham, who described it as “knowledge of what is right
or proper.”
Deontological Ethics (Continued)
• Instead of focusing on consequences, deontological ethics focuses on
duties and obligations: things we ought to do regardless of the
consequences.
• Deontological theories emphasize the right over the good, by which
we mean that deontology focuses on right actions and right intentions,
while downplaying the importance of the goods or benefits that are
produced by these actions.
Deontological Ethics (Continued)
• While utilitarian ethics focuses on producing the greatest happiness for the
greatest number, deontological ethics focuses on what makes us worthy of
happiness.
• For Kant, we are worthy of happiness only when we do our duty.
• As Kant explained, morality “is not properly the doctrine of how we are to
make ourselves happy but of how we are to become worthy of happiness.”
• For Kant, morality is not a “doctrine of happiness” or set of instructions on
how to become happy.
Teleological Ethics/ Consequentialism :
Teleological Ethics or consequentialism focuses on the outcome or end of
the action.
Action that produces an outcome Morally Right
Action that doesn’t produce any outcome
Morally Wrong
The most well-known teleological Ethics is Hedonism/ Utilitarianism-
Maximization of pleasure and minimization of pain for the maximum
number of people.
(Introduced by Jeremy Bentham and developed by John Stuart Mill)
Deontological Ethics vs. Teleological Ethics
Deontological Ethics Teleological Ethics
• Never focus on the outcome. • Always focuses on the outcome
• Ruled-based view of ethics was • Consequence-based view of ethics
first imposed by Immanuel Kant was introduced by Jeremy
which is therefore commonly Bentham and developed by John
known as Kantian ethics. Stuart Mill which is also known as
utilitarianism.
• Goodness or badness is determined • Goodness or badness is
by the action. determined by the results or
outcomes.
• A behaviour that can be considered
ethical by having a good will • Can justify the behaviour as ethical
behind it. if it produces the greatest good for
the greatest number.
Deontology vs. Ethics of Duty
• There is a difference between deontological ethics and divine
command ethics
• Divine command ethics is deontological in the sense that
obedience to God’s command is a duty that must be followed no
matter what the consequences.
• For example, Abraham was willing to sacrifice his own son. In this
story, religious duty must be done despite the consequences and
the unhappiness that is produced.
Deontology and Ethics of
Duty (Continued)
• This episode shows us one of the
problems for divine command ethics—
• For Kant, the commands of ethics are
clear, certain, and without exception—and
they do not include the command to kill
our own children.
• the story of Abraham shows us that there
may be religious duties that transcend the
duties of ethics. Kant rejects such a claim.
For Kant, moral duties are universal and
absolute, and we should use our
knowledge of morality to criticize and
interpret religious stories and ideas.
Deontology of
Immanuel Kant
• German Philosopher
• Lifetime: (1724-1804)
• Notable Works on Ethics:
1. Critique of Practical Reason
2. The Metaphysics of Morals
Kantian Moral Philosophy
• Kant objected to basing morality on the consequences of our actions.
• Duty for duty's sake
• In Kant’s view, we should not be used this way because we are
rational beings or persons. Persons have intrinsic or inherent value,
according to Kant, not mere instrumental value.
• The belief that people ought not to be used, but ought to be regarded
as having the highest intrinsic value, is central to Kant’s ethics, as is
having a motive to do what is right.
Kantian Moral Philosophy (Continued)
• Kant believed that an act has moral worth only if it is done with a right
intention or motive.
• He referred to this as having a “good will.” Kant writes that the only
thing that is unconditionally good is a good will.
• In Kant’s words, it is to act “out of duty,” out of concern and respect
for the moral law.
• Kant believed that there is a right and a wrong thing to do, whether or
not we know or agree about it.
Hypothetical imperative and Categorical imperative
• Kant distinguished two kinds of normative laws which he called
imperatives or commands.
1. Hypothetical imperative
2. Categorical imperative
Hypothetical imperative, which only holds for groups of people who, under
certain conditions, have certain ends in view. First of all, an imperative is
simply a form of statement that tells us to do something.
⮚ These “oughts” are also quite individualized. What I ought to do is
contingent or dependent on my own individual goals or plans.
Categorical imperative
• Categorical imperative holds unconditionally and universally, and Kant considered
that the moral law is the only law of this kind.
• Moral laws do not depend on the ends.
• Moral “oughts” are thus, in Kant’s terminology, unconditional or necessary.
Moreover, whereas hypothetical “oughts” relate to goals we each have as
individuals.
• These “oughts” are thus not individualized but universal as they apply to all persons.
• Kant calls moral “oughts” categorical imperatives because they tell us what we
ought to do no matter what, under all conditions, or categorically.
