1) THE SIMILARITIES & DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TELEOLOGICAL &

DEONTOLOGICAL ETHICS
INTRODUCTION
Deontology and Teleology are both terms used in philosophy. The word Deontology is derived from
Greek. It is made from the words Deon, which means duty and logos, which stands for study or science.
Thus, Deontology is the study of duty. It is a part of a philosophy that covers ethics and explains aspects
such as what is forbidden and what is permitted (Yadav, 2022).
The key difference between teleological and deontological ethics is that the teleological ethics determines
the goodness or badness of an action by examining its consequences whereas deontological ethics
determines the goodness or badness of the action by examining the action itself. Teleological and
deontological ethics are two opposing ethical theories that determine the moral or badness of an action.
The difference between teleological and deontological ethics is that the teleological view is a consequent-
based view introduced by Jeremy Bentham while the deontological view is a rule-based view introduced
by Immanuel Kant.
What Does Teleological Ethics Mean?
Teleological ethics is a theory according to which the rightness of an act is determined by its outcome. In
fact, the word teleological comes from Greek telos, meaning end or goal, and logos meaning science.
Thus, teleological theories focus on the consequences of actions; in other words, this theorizes that our
actions being morally right or wrong depends on the good or evil generated. Thus, a teleologist would
attempt to comprehend the purpose of something by examining its results. He will deem an act good if it
produces good results and another action bad if it produces bad results. Moreover, this is a consequential
theory as a moral right or moral wrong is dependent on the outcome of an action. Thus, in teleological
ethics, consequences drive the moral decision. For example, most people believe that lying is wrong, but
if telling a lie would do no harm and help to make a person happy or save someone, this action would be
right in teleological ethics. However, it is not always easy to determine the possible outcomes or
consequences of our actions. Hence, this is a weakness of teleology.
What Does Deontological Ethics Mean?
Deontological is an approach to ethics that focuses on the rightness or wrongness of actions themselves,
instead of examining its consequences or any other considerations. Thus, this is a non-consequential
theory as the decision of whether an act is good or bad does not depend on its consequence. Here, action
drives the moral decision. We often associate deontology with philosopher Immanuel Kant, who was of
the view that ethical actions follow universal moral laws, such as don’t cheat, don’t steal and don’t lie.
Hence, deontology requires people to follow the rules and do their duty. Also, this theory avoids
subjectivity and uncertainty. For example, suppose your friend has given you a gift, but you hate this gift.
She or he wants to know whether you like this. If you believe that lying is always bad no matter the
consequences, you would tell the truth, i.e., that you hate it, even if the outcome of your action bad (in
this case, hurting your friend). Here, you are demonstrating a deontological position. Thus, deontology
means disregarding the possible outcomes of your actions when determining what is right and what is
wrong.
What is the Difference Between Teleological and Deontological Ethics?
Teleological is an approach to ethics that focuses on the rightness or wrongness of actions by examining
its consequences while deontological is an approach to ethics that focuses on the rightness or wrongness
of actions themselves, instead of examining any other considerations. Therefore, this is the key difference

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between teleological and deontological ethics. Thus, teleological ethics is a consequentialist theory while
deontological ethics is a non- consequentialist theory. However, it is not always possible to predict the
consequences of an action; this is a weakness of the teleological approach. Moreover, the deontological
approach also has the disadvantage of being too rigid.
2) HOW WE CAN MAKE ETHICAL DECISIONS AND ACTIONS
Ethical Decision making can be hard enough but when we have to consider ethics and decision making
we can tie ourselves up so tight we stop making decisions entirely. Now that we have working knowledge
of ethics, it is important to discuss some of the models we can use to make ethical decisions.
Understanding these models can assist us in developing our self-management skills and relationship
management skills. These models will give you the tools to make good decisions, which will likely result
in better human relations within your organization. Note there are literally hundreds of models, but most
are similar to the ones we will discuss. Most people use a combination of several models, which might be
the best way to be thorough with ethical decision making.
I. The Twelve Questions Model
Laura Nash, an ethics researcher, created the Twelve Questions Model as a simple approach
to ethical decision making. Nash, L. (1981). In her model, she suggests asking yourself
questions to determine if you are making the right ethical decision. This model asks people to
reframe their perspective on ethical decision making, which can be helpful in looking at
ethical choices from all angles. Her model consists of the following questions:
1) Have you defined the problem accurately?
2) How would you define the problem if you stood on the other side of the fence?
3) How did this situation occur in the first place?
4) To whom and what do you give your loyalties as a person and as a member of the company?
5) What is your intention in making this decision?
6) How does this intention compare with the likely results?
7) Whom could your decision or action injure?
8) Can you engage the affected parties in a discussion of the problem before you make your
decision?
9) Are you confident that your position will be as valid over a long period of time as it seems
now?
10) Could you disclose without qualms your decision or action to your boss, your family, or
society as a whole?
11) What is the symbolic potential of your action if understood? If misunderstood?
12) Under what conditions would you allow exceptions to your stand?
The purpose of the model is to think through the situation from all sides to make sure the right decision is
being made. As you can see in this model, first an analysis of the problem itself is important. Determining
your true intention when making this decision is an important factor in making ethical decisions. In other
words, what do you hope to accomplish and who can it hurt or harm? The ability to talk with affected
parties upfront is telling. If you were unwilling to talk with the affected parties, there is a chance (because
you want it kept secret) that it could be the wrong ethical decision. Also, looking at your actions from
other people’s perspectives is a core of this model.

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 II. Josephson Institute of decision-making model
Josephson Institute of Ethics uses a model that focuses on six steps to ethical decision making. The steps
consist of stop and think, clarify goals, determine facts, develop options, consider consequences,
choose, and monitor/modify.
As mentioned, the first step is to stop and think. When we stop to think, this avoids rash decisions and
allows us to focus on the right decision-making process. It also allows us to determine if the situation we
are facing is legal or ethical. When we clarify our goals, we allow ourselves to focus on expected and
desired outcomes. Next, we need to determine the facts in the situation. Where are we getting our facts? Is
the person who is providing the facts to us credible? Is there bias in the facts or assumptions that may not
be correct? Next, create a list of options. This can be a brainstormed list with all possible solutions. In the
next step, we can look at the possible consequences of our actions. For example, who will be helped and
who might be hurt? Since all ethical decisions we make may not always be perfect, considering how you
feel and the outcome of your decisions will help you to make better ethical decisions in the future.
III. Steps to Ethical Decision Making
this model, the authors propose eight steps to the decision-making process. As you will note, the
process is similar to Josephson’s model, with a few variations:
1) . Step 1: Identify the problem. Sometimes just realizing a particular situation is ethical
can be the important first step. Occasionally in our organizations, we may feel that it’s
just the “way of doing business” and not think to question the ethical nature.
2) Step 2: Identify the potential issues involved. Who could get hurt? What are the issues
that could negatively impact people and/or the company? What is the worst-case
scenario if we choose to do nothing?
3) Step 3: Review relevant ethical guidelines. Does the organization have policies and
procedures in place to handle this situation? For example, if a client gives you a gift,
there may be a rule in place as to whether you can accept gifts and if so, the value limit
of the gift you can accept.
4) Step 4: Know relevant laws and regulations. If the company doesn’t necessarily have a
rule against it, could it be looked at as illegal?
5) Step 5: Obtain consultation. Seek support from supervisors, coworkers, friends, and
family, and especially seek advice from people who you feel are moral and ethical.
6) Step 6: Consider possible and probable courses of action. What are all of the possible
solutions for solving the problem? Brainstorm a list of solutions all solutions are options
during this phase.
7) Step 7: List the consequences of the probable courses of action. What are both the
positive and negative benefits of each proposed solution? Who can the decision affect?
8) Step 8: Decide on what appears to be the best course of action. With the facts we have
and the analysis done, choosing the best course of action is the final step. There may not
always be a “perfect” solution, but the best solution is the one that seems to create the
most good and the least harm.
Some of the possible approaches to ethical decision making. No one model is perfect, so understanding
all of the possibilities and combining them is the best way to look at ethical decision making.

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 3) (A) TO WHOM OR WHAT DOES MORALITY APPLY?
The Definition of Morality
Morality refers to the most vital code of conduct set and recognized by a society and accepted by the
people of that society. It also entails a structure of behavior regarding the standards of being right or
wrong. Morality involves the concept of moral standards which regards the behavior of people, moral
responsibility which refers to their conscience and moral identity meaning one who is capable of doing
right or wrong (Harris, 2018). It describes the values that govern people’s behavior such that without
these values’ society cannot survive well. Morality affects the decisions of the people daily. Where they
decide for themselves where the conscience originated. Most of the people believes that conscience is a
matter of their hearts, programming the concepts of rights and wrongs differently. We should be moral, so
as to live in peace and harmony in the society without conflicts arising among people. This discussion
therefore focuses on the importance of moral values, morality and its applications and finally morality,
law and religion.
To whom or what does morality apply?
First of all, let’s establish that Morality is not a physical force, so it doesn’t apply to anyone or anything
in a literal sense. Unlike magnetism or electricity, it can’t be observed under a microscope. It only exists
as a concept. To put it in other terms: Morality is a “software”. All we need to realize is that Morality
requires beings vaguely similar to humans in order for it to exist in the first place “similar” in the sense
that such beings must have the ability to conceive of complex concepts and must be able to interact and
communicate with other, similar beings. We can call these beings “moral agents”. Now, just because a
moral agent exists, doesn’t mean Morality applies to them. As we noted before, there can be many
different definitions of morality and every individual moral agent can have their own unique variant (or
choose to have none at all). So, let’s not jump to conclusions. The only sensible observation we can make
at this point is that moral agents can observe the events around them through a “moral lens”. Meaning,
they can judge actions of other moral agents based on their own, personal understanding of Morality. This
is what we know as Subjective Morality: It’s not like there’s an external Morality that applies to each
individual moral agent, but rather each individual moral agent applies their own version of Morality to
every other moral agent and themselves.
(B.) Who is morally or ethically responsible?
In philosophy moral responsibility is the status of morally deserving praise, blame, reward,
or punishment for an act or omission in accordance with one's moral obligations. Deciding what (if
anything) counts as "morally obligatory" is a principal concern of ethics. Philosophers refer to people who
have moral responsibility for an action as moral agents. Agents have the capability to reflect upon their
situation, to form intentions about how they will act, and then to carry out that action. The notion of free
will has become an important issue in the debate on whether individuals are ever morally responsible for
their actions and, if so, in what sense. In compatibilists regard determinism as at odds with free will,
whereas compatibilists think the two can coexist. Moral responsibility does not necessarily equate to legal
responsibility. A person is legally responsible for an event when a legal system is liable to penalize that
person for that event. Although it may often be the case that when a person is morally responsible for an
act, they are also legally responsible for it, the two states do not always coincide.
Making judgments about whether a person is morally responsible for her behavior, and holding others and
ourselves responsible for actions and the consequences of actions, is a fundamental and familiar part of
our moral practices and our interpersonal relationships. The judgment that a person is morally responsible
for her behavior involves at least to a first approximation attributing certain powers and capacities to that

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person, and viewing her behavior as arising (in the right way) from the fact that the person has, and has
exercised, these powers and capacities. Whatever the correct account of the powers and capacities at issue
(and canvassing different accounts is the task of this entry), their possession qualifies an agent as morally
responsible in a general sense: that is, as one who may be morally responsible for particular exercises of
agency. Normal adult human beings may possess the powers and capacities in question, and non-human
animals, very young children, and those suffering from severe developmental disabilities or dementia (to
give a few examples) are generally taken to lack them. To hold someone responsible involves again, to a
first approximation responding to that person in ways that are made appropriate by the judgment that she
is morally responsible. These responses often constitute instances of moral praise or moral blame. Blame
is a response that may follow on the judgment that a person is morally responsible for behavior that is
wrong or bad, and praise is a response that may follow on the judgment that a person is morally
responsible for behavior that is right or good.
4) WHY SHOULD HUMAN BEINGS BE MORAL?
REASONS: There are several answers. Sociological: Without morality social life is nearly impossible.
Psychological: People care about what others think of them. Reputation and social censure Some people
care about doing the right thing. Conscience Theological: Some people care about what will happen after
death, to their soul or spirit. For many religions there is an afterlife that involves a person’s being
rewarded or punished for what they have done. Morality- rules of right conduct concerning matters of
greater importance. Violations of such can bring disturbance to individual conscience and social
sanctions. Law- rules which are enforced by society. Violations may bring a loss of or reduction in
freedom and possessions.
So, that is out of the way. We know that we should be moral and so should others and without some sense
of morality it would be very difficult if not impossible for large numbers of humans to be living with one
another.
In every human person, there is a deep desire for good. Human beings by nature tend to be good. Each
man/woman desires what is best for himself/herself. Not few are the people who ask this question: Why
should we be moral? Why should we take part in the moral institution of life? Why should we adopt a
moral point of view? Ethical principles and moral practices help one to attain what is best. It helps a
person to perfect himself/herself as a moral being. Morality has to do more with one’s interior self than
the practice of some customs or set of rules. Viewed from this point, morality is a deep-down desire in the
human person and is something to do with the very nature of the human person. Being moral (or good) is
necessary for having self-respect. Self-respect is necessary for happiness. And only people who can make
just and fair self-assessments can have self-knowledge. And only just and fair people, good, moral people
can make just and fair self-assessment. We also find that for the functioning of any society we need
certain rules and regulations. The Institutions are designed to make life easier and better for humankind,
cannot function without certain moral principles.
CONCLUSION
Deontology is an approach to ethics which adheres to the theory that an end does not justify the means
while teleology is an approach to ethics that adheres to the theory that the end always justifies the means.
Deontology is also known as duty-based ethics while teleology is also known as results-oriented ethics.
Deontology adheres to the Golden Rule which is to do unto others what you want them to do unto you
while teleology does not; rather, it is also referred to as the greatest happiness principle because it justifies
an action if it produces the greatest happiness and least amount of pain. Deontology teaches to be fair and

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not to use others for selfish reasons while teleology teaches about doing whatever actions produce a result
that is agreeable to a person.
Teleology examines past experiences in order to predict the results of a present action while deontology
follows what is morally right based on the values that are instilled in each person.
Morality describes the values that govern people’s behavior.  Morality affects the decisions of the people
daily since they decide to do right or wrong. People should maintain moral values including: respect,
integrity, honesty and patience so as to lead good and happy life. People should be moral because of the
enlightened self -interest. This is the decision to do right so as to be a good person, responsible and better
in the society.  Also, they should do what is right so as to adhere to laws and traditions so as not to break
any. They also should be moral because they have shared human needs, goals, wishes and aims. When
they maintain good morals, they live in peace and harmony in the society without conflicts arising among
them. Ethical principles and moral practices help one to attain what is best. It helps a person to perfect
himself/herself as a moral being. Morality has to do more with one’s interior self than the practice of
some customs or set of rules. Viewed from this point, morality is a deep-down desire in the human person
and is something to do with the very nature of the human person.
Though there is not a single framework for making ethical decisions, each ethical decision-making model
incorporates these four core steps: Identify the facts, lay out all possible options, Sort options by
implication and Weigh your considerations.

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