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Study Notes

Deontological ethics is a normative ethical theory that morality should be based on whether an action itself is right or wrong based on a set of rules and principles, rather than based on the consequences of the action. This theory is sometimes referred to as duty-, obligation-, or rule-based ethics and is often contrasted with consequentialism, virtue ethics, and pragmatic ethics. Depending on the system of deontological ethics, a moral obligation may arise from an external or internal source, such as a set of rules inherent to the universe, religious law, or a set of personal or cultural values. Kantianism is a deontological philosophy that argues that the highest good must be both good in itself and good without qualification, and that good consequences do not necessarily make an action morally right. Divine command theory is a form of deontology that states that an action is right if God has decreed that it is right, regardless of the consequences. Ross's deontological pluralism is a deontological philosophy that argues there is a plurality of prima facie duties determining what is right, and that absolute duty determines which acts are right or wrong. Contemporary deontologists include Józef Maria Bocheński, Thomas Nagel, T. M. Scanlon, and Roger Scruton. Frances Kamm's "Principle of Permissible Harm" is an effort to derive a deontological constraint that coheres with our considered case judgments while also relying heavily on Kant's categorical imperative. Various attempts have been made to reconcile deontology with consequentialism, including threshold deontology, theories put forth by Thomas Nagel and Michael S. Moore, and Iain King's book How to Make Good Decisions and Be Right All the Time. Intuition-based deontology is a concept within secular ethics that dates back centuries and is associated with the Kural text authored by the ancient Tamil Indian philosopher Valluvar.

Description

Do you know the difference between deontological ethics and consequentialism? Can you identify the various forms of deontological philosophy, such as Kantianism and divine command theory? Test your knowledge with our quiz on deontological ethics! From Ross's deontological pluralism to Frances Kamm's "Principle of Permissible Harm," this quiz covers a range of topics within the realm of deontology. Challenge yourself and see how much you know about this normative ethical theory that emphasizes the