Déthique

Déthique is a social and philosophical neologism in French that designates the state or quality of lacking ethical considerations, or the negation or erosion of ethical norms in a person, institution, or system. The term combines dé- (a prefix indicating removal or negation) with éthique (ethics). It is not a standard entry in major French dictionaries, but it appears in critical and academic discourse as a way to describe phenomena where ethical reflection is minimized or displaced by instrumental goals such as profitability, efficiency, or control.

Usage and contexts: In philosophy and social theory, déthique is used to describe practices or systems that operate without reference to moral norms, or that treat ethics as irrelevant or obstructive. In corporate governance or technology policy, it is invoked to describe a “déthique” of decision-making when algorithms or management procedures sidestep ethical evaluation or ethical risk assessment. In literature and cultural criticism, déthique may denote a narrative tone or world-building in which characters act without explicit moral consideration.

Relation to other concepts: The concept is closely related to, yet distinct from, amoralité (amorality), immoralité (immorality), and ethical nihilism. Critics argue that defining a stable category of déthique risks conflating mere inefficiency, legal evasion, or strategic ambiguity with a genuine withdrawal of ethics, and may obscure accountability.

Status and debate: The term remains contested and is often used as a polemical device to draw attention to perceived ethical gaps rather than to describe a fixed moral ontology. As such, déthique is most often discussed in relation to contemporary debates about algorithmic decision-making, corporate responsibility, or political rhetoric.