Deontology tends to regard the most moral action of a set of choices to be the one that the individual is most obligated to uphold, regardless of the outcomes for others. - Definition & Examples, What is Social Imperialism? We often conclude that something is good or bad simply because it is morally correct or wrong. You can hack the network and cancel the launch, but its against your professional code of ethics to break into any software system without permission. There are many people who just have to be perfect in their work. In the lab, an electroshock machine was connected to two separate cages. An example of natural law is same sex marriages. Irrespective of the outcome or situation, it is essential for individuals to adhere to a moral code. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Greek words make up deontology: duty (deon) and scientific study (logos) supposedly formulated by Jeremy Bentham, an English Philosopher in the 18th century. The discussion applies the ideas in both maxims to two real-world situations and reveals how differently they approach the application. Updates? Categorical imperative is a powerful tool for understanding how morality works and establishing a strong foundation for ethical behavior. "Kants Deontological Ethics in a Real-Life Example." Deontological ethics suggest that you should always do the right thing, no matter what. Local banks refuse to accommodate her with a loan since there is no chance that she will return the money on time. Having fiercely protected his secret identity for years to protect his beloved Aunt May and Mary Jane Watson, Spidey knows all too well the value of privacy and safety, as well as the personal. Therefore, according to Kant's deontology, it might not be ethical to tell a "little-white-lie" to a significant other because lying is not intrinsically good, and the significant other as an individual must be considered as an end in themselves, and therefore deserve the respect of being told the truth. In any event, Kants critics questioned his view that all duties can be derived from a purely formal principle and argued that, in his preoccupation with rational consistency, he neglected the concrete content of moral obligation.