Lesson 1: Ethics and Deontology Concepts PDF

Course No. 1 : Concepts of Ethics and Deontology Introduction : Morality, ethics, and deontology are considered fundamental materials for the practice of university life, especially since the latter has two basic functions. The first is to provide an education based on values and ethics, and the se...

Course No. 1 : Concepts of Ethics and Deontology Introduction : Morality, ethics, and deontology are considered fundamental materials for the practice of university life, especially since the latter has two basic functions. The first is to provide an education based on values and ethics, and the second is interaction with society. The university, through its multiple missions and its impact on the economy and society in general, must determine the values to be proposed and instilled in its members, including students, professors, employees, and technicians. Therefore, we need to understand the meaning of each of morality, ethics, and deontology, which in some cases may seem synonymous, and we must also distinguish them to clarify further. 1. Definition of Morality : Morality is the set of conduct rules considered absolutely good or stemming from a certain conception of life : obeying a rigid morality. Synonyms : good manners, honesty, probity, virtue. Thus, morality is a set of principles of judgment, rules of conduct relating to good and evil, duties, and values, sometimes erected into doctrine, that a society adopts and which impose themselves both on individual and collective conscience. These principles vary according to culture, beliefs, living conditions, and societal needs. They often originate from what is positive for the survival of the ethnicity, people, or society. If such principles are positive for all ethnicities, peoples, or societies globally, they can be considered part of universal morality. Morality has several sources, among which we can cite : a. Religion : texts from the Holy Book (Quran) ; b. Conscience : it is my conscience that tells me what is good or bad. c. Sense of duty : to do good or seek it is, above all, a duty. d. Reason : philosophical sense ; e. Sense of respect : interpersonal relationships should be governed by respect ; f. Justice : we are all born equal in rights, in other words, there is only one rule that applies to all, but these rules are not necessarily legislative in nature. g. Virtue : virtue is inherent to a person’s character, to their identity, a good person, a virtuous person will do good things. 2. Definition of Ethics : Ethics is « … the thought that analyzes human action in relation to ethical values and norms. » It concerns the person, their soul, their relationship with others, and society. Ethics defines and motivates actions for good performance. 3. Definition of Deontology : The term « deontology » comes from the Greek « deontos, » which means « duty. » In its common sense, it refers to the obligations that people must respect in their work. Deontology is the set of rules or duties governing the conduct of members of a profession or individuals holding a function in society. Whether imposed by law or not, it constitutes the morality of a profession. This is the case, for example, for medical professionals, journalists, lawyers… or teachers towards their students and even students themselves within the university life framework. 4. Distinction between Ethics and Deontology : The word deontology refers to the set of duties and obligations on members of an order or a professional association. Like legal rules, deontological rules apply uniformly to all members of the group in all practical situations. An authority is responsible for enforcing them and imposing sanctions in case of deviations. To conform to deontology, it is not necessary to reflect on the values underlying it or even to share these values. Ethics, on the contrary, invites the professional to reflect on the values that motivate their action and to choose the most appropriate conduct based on them. Therefore, the terms « ethics » and « deontology » may appear identical, but their meanings differ. Indeed, there is a nuance that makes ethics and deontology not mean the same thing, although they are complementary terms.