Deontology

We tell you what deontology is and its characteristics. Also, its history and its relationship with professional ethics.

What is deontology?

Deontology is a part of ethical philosophy that is dedicated to the study of ethical duties or obligations..

It is a discipline that studies the duties that must be fulfilled to achieve certain purposes, such as those that must be fulfilled in certain social circumstances, especially within a specific profession.

In cases where deontology is applied to the professional field, we speak of professional deontology, which is responsible for determining what duties are required of a professional in the performance of their activity.

These professional activities are usually governed by a code of ethics, which expresses the position of a group of professionals in the same field on what they consider good, fair and correct with respect to their professional practice.

History of deontology

The word “deontology” was coined in the 18th century by the English philosopher Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832), who used it in his book Deontology or science of morality (1832). Bentham used deontology to define the art and science of private morality in the context of a utilitarian world. He considered that deontology was the science of duty in general or duties in particular.

Bentham's original idea was that deontology complemented utilitarianism (the philosophy that privileges what is useful for its function) in an ethical sense, but due to its characteristics it differs from a teleological ethics, that is, an ethics of ends, such as It seems to be utilitarianism. This distinction was made by Charlie Dunbar Broad (1887-1971), an English philosopher and epistemologist.

Deontology comes from the Greek deon (“obligation” or “duty”) and logos (“knowledge” or “study”) and means study or science of duty.

It is often said that Kantian normative ethics is one of the great antecedents of contemporary deontology. For Immanuel Kant (1724-1804), the idea of ​​duty occupied a privileged place in his ethics. People's actions had to be guided by moral duty, which Kant described through the categorical imperative (the idea that one should act according to maxims that can be willed as universal laws).

Currently, ethics deals with the field of work and is known as professional ethics. In general, it works on the deontological code (or ethical code), which is the set of ethical standards and principles that regulate the practice of professionals in any field.

Characteristics of deontology

Deontology provides an ethical structure based on duties, rules and principles that aim to guide human behavior towards what is considered morally correct and imperative in itself, without depending exclusively on the consequences of actions.

It is characterized by:

• Duties and obligations. Examines the moral duties and obligations that guide human conduct.
• Rules and principles. It seeks to establish moral rules and principles that determine which actions are morally right or wrong, regardless of the consequences.
• Intrinsic nature of the acts. Considers that the morality of an action lies in the intrinsic nature of the act itself, not in its consequences.
• Universality. It strives to find ethical principles that can be universally applied to all similar situations.
• Focus on will and intention. Pay attention to the intention behind an action, assessing the willingness to act morally correctly.
• Emphasis on the person as an end in themselves. It advocates treating each individual as an end in themselves, not simply a means to an end.
• Kant and the categorical imperative. It is influenced by Kant's ethical theory, known as the “categorical imperative”, which establishes moral principles based on universality and respect for human dignity.

Professional deontology and professional ethics

The terms “professional ethics” and “professional deontology” are often used interchangeably. Although it is not incorrect to call everyday issues in the workplace an ethical dilemma in a broad sense, these correspond, strictly, to professional deontology.

Professional ethics	Professional ethics
It is oriented towards duty and this is oriented towards good.	It is oriented toward good.
It is governed by rules and codes.	It is not normative.
It should be required of professionals.	It is not required.
It must be approved by a specific group of professionals.	It corresponds to an individual conscience.
Establishes the minimum mandatory codes.	It cares about maximum codes.
It is placed between morality and the Law.	It is part of applied ethics.
Demand actions from professionals.	Provides motivations to people.

References

• Bentham, J. (1836). Deontology or Science of morals. Mexico: Galván Bookstore.
• Bermejo, FJ (1996) (coord.). Ethics and social work. Madrid: Pontifical University of Comillas.
• Kant, I. (1946). Foundation of the metaphysics of customs (No. 648). Espasa-Calpe.
• Kagan, S., 1989, The Limits of Morality, Oxford: Clarendon Press, pp. 101-102.