deontologists

Deontologists are philosophers who argue that the morality of an action depends on whether it adheres to a set of duties, rules, or moral laws, rather than on its outcomes. In deontological ethics, actions have intrinsic moral worth, and some duties may be absolute while others are prima facie, depending on the framework.

A central concept is the idea that rational beings have an obligation to respect moral law. Immanuel Kant is a pivotal figure, famous for the Categorical Imperative: act only according to maxims you could consistently will to become universal laws, and treat humanity, whether in yourself or others, as an end in itself. This emphasizes universalizable rules and respect for persons rather than the calculation of consequences.

Historically, deontology includes various formulations beyond Kant, such as W. D. Ross’s pluralistic account of prima facie duties, which acknowledges multiple duties that can conflict and require careful prioritization. In modern ethics, contemporary deontologists such as Christine Korsgaard and Onora O’Neill develop Kantian-inspired rights- and duty-based theories for both practical and theoretical use.

Deontological theories have wide applications, including promises, lying, medical and legal ethics, and professional conduct. They often oppose consequentialist approaches that judge actions by total or average outcomes, arguing instead that certain actions are morally required or forbidden irrespective of their results. Criticisms focus on rigid rules in conflicting-duty situations and difficulties in balancing duties when duties clash or when outcomes are significantly affected.

Overall, deontologists seek a principled, rule-guided account of moral obligation grounded in rational beings’ duties to one another.