Deontology

 
Deontology is a theory that suggests actions are good or bad according to a clear set of rules. Its name comes from the Greek word deon, meaning duty. Actions that obey these rules are ethical, while actions that do not, are not.

Deontology is an ethical theory that is most closely associated with the German philosopher Immanuel Kant who set forth positive and negative duties. Positive duties such as helping and rescuing others from harm or fulfilling one’s natural talents (duty to oneself).  Negative duties include unethical behaviors like murdering, lying or exploiting others (treating others as a mean).

Deontological theories, of any kind, are explicitly opposed to utilitarian theories which base morality on the calculation about the consequences of the action.  Deontology does not justify itself by calculating consequences. That there is an innate moral base that transcends rational thought.

Counter to Deontology
There are special times where people are used as a means to achieve the larger good. Some interpretations of the utilitarian view allow for the use of individuals as means to benefit the many.  Upshot: you're willing to do wrong for the ‘greater good’ - like Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve Apostles who betrayed Jesus to the Sanhedrin by revealing his identity.

Key Issues:
 • The moral realm is not so black and white.
 • Many shades of grey that render absolute accounts almost always as inaccurate.
 • Denotology will always err because it is event oriented.

How to choose which theory?  Finding a theory of ethics is only one part of the problem.  Another part of the problem of becoming good is the way we approach the choice and the way that determines our lives: the personal worldview.

In the quest to resolve the denotological dilemma of attempting to satisfy notions of Kant's good will it serves to review the actions of the historical mythical character of Robin Hood.

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