Moral Philosophy: De-ontological Theory

1. The University of Cambodia
PHL 105: Moral Philosophy
Lectured by:
Mut Somoeun (M.Ed)

2. Deontological Ethics:Deontological Ethics:
The Ethics of DutyThe Ethics of Duty

3. 
 Deontological ethics or deontology refers to
"obligation, duty") which is the normative
ethical position that judges the morality of
an action based on rules.
 It is sometimes described as "duty-" or
"obligation-" or "rule-" based ethics,
because rules "bind you to your duty".
What is Deontology?

4.  Normative theory?Normative theory? ‘What is it that makes an‘What is it that makes an
action right or wrong?’action right or wrong?’
 Deontological TheoryDeontological Theory: Also known as ‘Duty: Also known as ‘Duty
Ethics’ as Kantianism focuses on ‘duty’ ratherEthics’ as Kantianism focuses on ‘duty’ rather
than ‘consequences’.than ‘consequences’.

5. 
 The theory of duty or moral obligation.
 Duty:
 Role-related duty
 General duty
 Obligation:
 Requirement set on a person because
of his/her identity.
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Deontology

6. 
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Deontology VS UtilitarianismDeontology VS Utilitarianism

7.  Deontological Theory:Deontological Theory: Any action to have
any moral worth we can only look at the
motives or intentions behind the act.
 Deontological theories:Deontological theories: Do not list
consequences as being important in
assessing morality unlike utilitarian/
teleological theories.
Kantian Ethics

8. 
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Deontological Ethics

9. 
1.1. Personal autonomy:Personal autonomy: The moral person is a
rational self-legislator.
2.2. Respect:Respect: Persons should always be treated
as an end, not a means – ‘No persons should
be used.’
3.3. Duty:Duty: The moral action is one that we must
do in accordance with a certain principle,
not because of its good consequence.
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Basic Kantian themes

10. 
 An act is right if, and only if, it conforms to
the relevant moral obligation; and it is wrong
if, and only if, it violates the relevant moral
obligation
 They argue that the consequences of an action
are irrelevant to moral evaluation
 They emphasize that the value of an action
lies in motive, especially motives of obligation
Deontologists

11. 
 On Kant’s view, the moral worth
of an action is not determined by
its consequences but because:
 Good Will
 Duty of Ethics
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The Moral Worth

12. 
 An action has moral worth only when
performed by an agent who possesses a
good will (good intention).
 An agent has a good will only if moral
obligation based on a universally valid
norm is the action’s sole motive.
Good Will

13. 
 All good moral acts must be grounded
in good will.
 Good will indicates that the act was
carried out with the best of intentions.
 Good will indicates a good action not
because ultimately the consequences
are good but because the intention is
good in itself.
Good will

14. 
 Good Will can only result from the
proper use of reason
 We must eliminate our own desires
and needs from the decision and make
it in everyone’s best interests
 Do not follow gut instincts, they
undermine rational thinking.
Reason VS Good Will

15. 
 All persons must act not only in
accordance with, but for the sake of,
obligation
 A person’s motive for acting must rest
in a recognition that what he or she
intends is demanded by an obligation
Duty

16. 
 A moral person is one who acts from a
sense of duty and not from what we
personally would like to do.
 Acting morally amounts to doing our
duty regardless of what consequences
may follow, even for ourselves.
Duty

17. 
1. “An act must be done from obligation in
order to have moral worth.”
2. “An action’s moral value is due to the
maxim from which it is performed, rather
than to its success in realizing some desired
end or purpose.” – motive of benevolence is
rejected as morally unworthy
3. “Obligation is the necessity of an action
performed from respect for law.”
Three Principles

18. 
1. An action has moral worth only if a morally
valid rule of obligation determines that action
2. Even a motive of benevolence is rejected as
morally unworthy, unless there is an
accompanying motive of obligation
3. Necessity comes from laws, not from mere
subjective maxims. There must be an objective
principle underlying willing, one that all rational
agents would accept
Continued

19.  The supreme principle or moral law.
 Every moral agent recognizes whenever
accepting an action as morally obligatory
 Why is the categorical imperative
“imperative”?
 Human beings are imperfect creatures and
hence need rules imposed upon
 These rules enjoin us to do or not to do
something thus we conceive them as
necessitating our action
Categorical Imperative

20. 
Act only in such a way in which the
maxim of action can be rationally
willed as a universal law
 It requires unconditional conformity
by all rational beings, regardless of
circumstances
 Is unconditional and applicable at all
times
Categorical Imperative

21. 
 Conditional thing:
 E.g. “If I want to buy a house, then I
must work hard to make enough
money for a down payment.”
Hypothetical Imperative

22.  Maxims, according to Kant, are subjective rules
that guide action.
 Subjective principles of volition or willing.
 The general rule in accordance with which the
agent intends to act
 All actions have maxims, such as,
 Never lie to your friends.
 Never act in a way that would make your
parents ashamed of you.
Maxims

23. 
Refers to the rules of conduct that
rational beings lay down for themselves
in the light of reason.
Law

24. 
Questions?