Deontists
Deontists, also known as deontologists, are ethical theorists who ground moral obligations in duties or rules rather than in the consequences of actions. The term derives from the Greek deon, meaning “duty.” Deontological ethics holds that some actions are morally obligatory, forbidden, or permissible independently of their outcomes.
A central idea is that rational agents have a moral law that commands certain actions. In Kantian
There are variations within deontological theory. Some philosophers, like W. D. Ross, argue for a plurality of
Deontists contrast with consequentialists, who judge actions by outcomes, and with virtue ethicists, who focus on
The term “deontist” is less common in modern usage than “deontologist,” but it may be encountered in