Introduction
Ethics came from the Greek word ‘ethos,’ or character. In the modern context, ethics refer to the study of normative behavior. It is commonly understood as standards of behavior that ought to be followed under certain circumstances and the moral reasoning behind such actions. Ethics does not necessarily make people do good; nor is it an attribute that is only exclusive for good people. In fact, there are good people that exhibit unethical behavior, especially when under pressure. Professor and author, Denis Collins, for instance, observed that there are many good individuals who engage in unethical behavior because they are afraid to challenge the status quo or afraid to go against the existing culture (Collins, 2012, p. 26). What ethics does, however, is it makes a rational justification for the courses of action taken. Ethics is not absolute as it differs among individuals, organizations and cultures. In fact, there are actions that are considered as ethical in one culture while unethical in another. The major objective of ethics, however, is to set a standard behavior that would guide people in making decisions; knowing that such decisions are based on established moral principles. Ethics is an important aspect in individuals as it is in organizations as it shapes and defines the character of an individual and the organization and determines how they would react to an ethical dilemma.
The ethics of deontology is one of the widely recognized ethical framework that have influenced many ethical decisions. The term came from the Greek word ‘deon,’ which means duty (Alexander & Moore, 2016). The development of deontology was largely attributed to the German philosopher, Immanuel Kant, in the 18th century and is regarded as one of the major ethical framework that influenced modern ethics (Alexander & Moore, 2016). In order to understand the ethical framework of deontology, it is also necessary to contrast it with another major ethical framework, which is utilitarianism. Utilitarianism, for instance, posits that the criterion of ethics must be based on maximizing the benefits for the most number of people (Eggleston, 2012, p. 452). In other words, an action is considered ethical under utilitarianism if it makes most people happy. The philosopher, Immanuel Kant disagrees with such assumption. He believes that ethics should be based on ideal moral principles and not just on subjective feelings, such as happiness (Hooker, 2002, p. 1). Unlike utilitarianism, deontology, is an ethical framework, which posits that ethics only be based on what is inherently good. It also compels people to do what they believe is good by considering ethics as a matter of duty. Deontology posits that people are duty-bound to do what is right and reject what is wrong. Consistent with Kant’s philosophy, being ethical is not just based on whim, but is a duty that must be adhered to (Hooker, 2002, p. 1). Under deontology, the ethicality of a person’s action is based on his goodwill and not on the consequence of his action. Deontology does not aim to please themselves or others, but encourages individuals to pursue values that are considered as inherently good by themselves, such as justice, love, courage, honor, etc.
Personal Perspective
The ethical framework of deontology is helpful in making difficult ethical decisions. Personally, deontology is preferrable because it is compatible with most established moral codes, particularly that of the moral codes of the Christian bible. Deontology, for instance, coincides with most biblical doctrines that teaches people on how to live morally. Biblical laws such as you should not kill, steal or harm others, are consistent with the principles of deontology because such laws are based on goodwill. Consistent with deontological principles, biblical teachings holds men duty bound to its doctrines and adherence to these rules are non negotiable regardless of the consequences involved. The principles of justice as observed by most legal institutions are also consistent with deontology. The court of law, for instance, does not judge a person according to the outcome of his actions, but on the infractions that he or she have committed based on laws that were already established. Deontology simplifies decision making because one does not have to contemplate about the possible consequences of one’s actions. The only consideration is whether the intended course of action is if it is based on values that are inherently good and if it is done with goodwill or best intention in mind. When faced with a difficult ethical dilemma, deontology helps us choose only what is just and fair for everyone. Justice, for example, is a deontological principle because it is inherently good. Regardless of the outcome, a decision based on justice is still acceptable because it is inherently good. Deontology is the ethical principle behind rights. People, for instance, could not just disregards the rights of others because it will benefit a large number of individuals. Killing a rich person, for instance, so that his resources can be distributed to the poor, is not ethical; nor is it ethical to use other people as a means in order to maximize the perceived benefits for one’s self and other. Moreover, killing disabled or marginalized individuals because they are not productive members of society is considered as morally wrong because in deontology, killing is wrong regardless of the interests or benefits involved. Deontology is the ethical foundation of social institutions because it promotes adherence to concrete moral codes, which are the major basis of an individual’s conduct.
Analysis and Synthesis the Ethical Framework of Deontology
The ethical framework of deontology encompass a wide variety of interrelated ethical theories. In fact, most ethical and moral codes adopted by individuals, social institutions and organizations, are all consistent with the principles of deontology. The ethics behind justice, equality and human rights, for instance, are also interrelated with deontology primarily because these ethical principles are considered as good by themselves. Deontology is also the prevailing ethical framework in most professional code of conduct. Virtues such as honesty, integrity and industry, which most professional organizations include in their code of ethics, are manifestations of the superior position of the principles of deontology when it comes to ethics. Some scholars, for instance, implies that deontology is the most advanced stage of an individual’s moral development. Such idea is consistent with the American psychologist, Lawrence Kohlberg’s theory of moral development. Influenced by Jean Piaget’s theory of cognitive development, Kohlberg proposed that individuals also go through a moral evolution in which from the most simple ethical perspective that is based on reward and punishment, they gradually develop their ethical principles with age until such time that they are able to develop their own moral framework that is based on principles that are universally accepted as good (Collins, 2012, p. 21). This moral framework is often based on deontological ethics, which are considered as universal. Individuals who have reached the highest level of moral development, according to Kohlberg, becomes aware that laws should not always favor the majority; that individual rights should also be protected (Collins, 2012, p. 21). Deontology is also the prevailing ethical standards in an individual level. Desirable leadership traits such as selflessness and leadership by example, for instance, are traits that implies goodwill. Take for example, the ethical principles behind servant leadership. Popularized by company executive, Robert Greenleaf, servant leadership promotes service to others as the major attribute of a leader (Collins, 2012, p. 278). It should be noted that service to others is also a principle of deontology because it promotes duty and goodwill.
Conclusion
Ethics could not be based on personal opinion because an individual is prone to advancing his self interest. In making ethical decisions, there has to be concrete ethical principles that would serve as a guide on what actions to take. Deontology is the ethical framework that adheres to such criteria. Unlike the theoretical frameworks of utilitarianism,which emphasizes on maximizing the happiness of the most number of people, deontology bases its ethical criterion on ethical principles that are good by themselves. Deontology is, therefore, a more concrete way of practicing ethical behavior because it provides clear guidelines on what action to take given certain circumstances. Deontology as a personal ethical framework is compatible with most ethical principles that are being adopted by society. It is, for instance, compatible with the Christian doctrines. The laws of most justice systems as well as the code of conducts of most organization also draws significance from the wide acceptance of the principles of goodwill and duty. The ethical principles of deontology does not permit individuals to deviate from what is considered as inherently good. Rather, it teaches individuals to act ethically at all times because being ethical is a duty and a responsibility. The person who adheres to deontology acts ethically regardless of the consequences involved. Just follow the rules; never mind the consequences is what deontology is about. For the same reason, such ethical framework is desired and widely adopted by social institutions, particularly the institutions of justice as well as public and private organizations. These social institutions need a concrete code of ethics that would provide clear rules on what actions are ethical and what are not. Deontology provides a solution to this problem in ethics; a problem wherein ethical decisions are often arbitrary and based only on personal opinion.
References
Alexander, L., & Moore, M. (2016). Deontological Ethics. Retrieved from https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ethics-deontological/#DeoTheKan
Collins, D. (2012). Business Ethics: How to Design and Manage Ethical Organizations. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Eggleston, B. (2012). Utilitarianism. Retrieved from http://www.benegg.net/publications/Eggleston_Utilitarianism.pdf
Hooker, B. (2002). Kant’s Normative Ethics. Retrieved from http://www.richmond-philosophy.net/rjp/back_issues/rjp1_hooker.pdf
