duty
Sign in to saveright|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.
AI overview
A duty is a commitment or expectation to perform an action, either generally or when certain circumstances occur, and it often requires personal sacrifice. Duties matter because they arise from ethics, morality, and legal systems that help structure how people should behave toward each other, with laws sometimes including penalties for failing to fulfill them.
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Article
13 sectionsContents
- Civic duty
- Duties of employment
- Legal duties
- Filial duty
- In various cultures
- Philosophical perspectives
- Epictetus
- Marcus Aurelius
- Nietzsche
- Ayn Rand
- See also
- References
- External links
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.
A sense-of-duty is also a virtue or personality trait that characterizes someone who is diligent about fulfilling individual duties or who confidently knows their calling. A sense-of-duty can also come from a need to fulfill familial pressures and desires. This is typically seen in a militaristic or patriotic way. A distinction is commonly made between "positive duties", which a person must undertake, and "negative duties", which relate to actions from which a person must refrain. Michael Freeman notes that negative duties may be easier to fulfill as they do not require any action.