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MENTAL MODEL · M0101

Deontology

Deontology
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-28

CORE DEFINITION

Deontological ethics (deontology) is one of the theories of normative ethics. It holds that the highest moral ethics is based on the action itself and is not influenced by external factors. Unlike utilitarianism, which is also a branch of normative ethics, deontology does not consider consequences. It is sometimes called 'duty-based' or 'rule-based' ethics, emphasizing that the objective basis of moral judgment is the 'good will', valuing the motive of action, and holding that one should do good unconditionally out of duty. A representative figure is Kant, whose theory has had a great influence on later deontological ethics.

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Deontological ethics (deontology) is one of the theories of normative ethics. It holds that the highest moral ethics is based on the action itself and is not influenced by external factors. Unlike utilitarianism, which is also a branch of normative ethics, deontology does not consider consequences. It is sometimes called 'duty-based' or 'rule-based' ethics, emphasizing that the objective basis of moral judgment is the 'good will', valuing the motive of action, and holding that one should do good unconditionally out of duty. A representative figure is Kant, whose theory has had a great influence on later deontological ethics.

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Kantian ethics: The morality of an action lies in whether the motive conforms to a universalizable moral law (categorical imperative), regardless of consequences. The mechanism is: use 'universal law' + 'treat persons as ends' to set an insurmountable bottom line, so that decisions do not fluctuate with interests, countering 'the end justifies the means'.

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    zh.wikipedia.orghttps://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%B9%89%E5%8A%A1%E4%BC%A6%E7%90%86%E5%AD%A6ZH · Explicit
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