Deontology

right|thumb|"Duty" by Edmund Leighton A duty (from "due" meaning "that which is owing"; , past participle of ; , whence "debt") is a commitment or expectation to perform some action in general or if certain circumstances arise. A duty may arise from a system of ethics or morality, especially in an honor culture. Many duties are created by law, sometimes including a codified punishment or liability for non-performance. Performing one's duty may require some sacrifice of self-interest.

In moral philosophy, deontological ethics or deontology () is the normative ethical theory that the morality of an action should be based on whether that action itself is right or wrong under a series of rules and principles, rather than based on the consequences of the action. It is sometimes described as duty-, obligation-, or rule-based ethics. Deontological ethics is commonly contrasted to utilitarianism and other consequentialist theories, virtue ethics, and pragmatic ethics. In the deontological approach, the inherent rightfulness of actions is considered more important than their conseq

central concept in Kantian moral philosophy

ethical view that most actions are intrinsically right or wrong, regardless of context or consequence

Kantian philosophical concept; antonym of categorical imperative

state of nature where individuals determine the structure of society ignorant of their position

ethical theory of Immanuel Kant

libertarianism justified by the assertion of natural rights

Philosophical concept