UNIT IV:

DEONTOLOGY IN ETHICS

“Non nobis solum nati sumus.

(Not for ourselves alone are we born.)”
- Marcus Tullius Cicero
I. DUTY AND AGENCY
Learning Objectives:
At the end of the lesson's students are expected to:

1. Discussed the basic principles of deontology

2. Compared and contrast the concepts of agency and
autonomy to one’s moral experiences
3. Shown the value of duty and obligation in the family,
school and community
Words to Remember

o Duty
o Agency
o Ethics
o Basic Assumption
 Girlfriend/
Boyfriend
Daughter/
Neighbor
Son

World
Spouse
Citizen

Duty
Sibling Student

Government
Citizen
worker

Member of Godmother/
Society Godfather
 Duty – Based ethics

A Duty – based ethic --------- called

deontology
 Focuses on the act and not its consequences
 Rules can be express in 2 ways

negatively positively
“do not lie” “tell the truth”
“do not steal” “keep your promises”
DEONTOLOGICAL ETHICS
• Derived from the Greek word “deon” meaning “duty”
• Deontology is a category of normative ethical theories
that encompasses any theory which is primarily
concerned with adherence to certain rules or duties
• Consequences do NOT matter
• Intention is relevant. I am acting a certain way only if
I act for the right reason.
Basic Assumptions
a. No matter how morally good their consequences,
some choices are morally forbidden.
b. What makes a choice right is its conformity with a
moral norm
c. The right is said to have priority over the Good.

- if an act is not in accord with the Right, it may not be

undertaken, no matter the Good that it might produce.
In other word…
• Deontological theories hold that actions that are
morally right are those in accordance with the certain
rules, duties, rights, or maxims.

• Actions can be morally good, required, permitted or

forbidden.
Examples of Deontological Theories
• Divine Command Theory

• “The Golden Rule”

• Natural law & Natural Right Theories

 Divine Command Theory
• It’s the idea that we have a duty to obey God, and
therefore a duty to do or not do whatever God has
commanded us to do or not do
• Divine Command Theory is a moral theory, and moral
theology, but strictly speaking, it is not normative
moral philosophy
 Divine Command Theory
• defined as the systematic inquiry into the nature of
things (such as norms), based on logical reasoning or
rationality
• categorized as moral Prescriptivism, as moral
theology, and as deontological ethics.
 The Golden Rule
• Also known as the Ethic of Reciprocity
• This famous cross – culture maxim states: “ Do to
others as you want to do to you.”
• May seem like a useful maxim at first, but it has
limitations:
• Depends on the mental state (personality, mental health,
emotional health, compassion, etc.) of the moral agent
rather than the person being acted upon.
 Natural law & Natural right theories
• Humans have reasoning and the Laws of Nature are
discernable by human reason.
• Humans are morally obligated to use reasoning to
discern what the laws are and then to act in conformity
with them.
• Humans have a natural drive to eat, drink, sleep and
procreate. These actions are in accord with a natural
law for species to survive and procreate.
 Natural law & Natural right theories
• Thus, activities in conformity with such a law are morally
good. Activities that work against that law are morally
wrong.

• As an example, consider that to eat too much or too little and

place life in jeopardy is morally wrong.
 Agency - Centered vs. Patient
Deontology
• Theories focused on the duty of the moral agent (the
person acting) rather than the right of the person being
acted upon (patient – centered theories).

• Two types:
• a) Agent – Relative Theory
b) Agent – Neutral duties
 Agency - Centered vs. Patient
Deontology
• This allows for the agent – relatives reasons for actions and
duties.
• Agent – Relative Duties: An act is relative to the Individual duties
of the Agent ( ex. Duties to family, Personal Morality, Self –
Interest).

• Agent – Neutral Duties: The act is the Same for Every Agent (ex.
Duty to follow the law, duty to not kill innocents).
 Agent – Relative Duties
An agent – relative obligation is an obligation for a particular
agent to take or refrain from taking some action.

Since it is agent – relative, the obligation does not necessarily

give anyone else a reason to support that action.
 Agent – centered deontology
At the heart of agent – centered theories is the idea of agency.

The idea is that morality is intensely personal, in the sense that we are each
charged to keep our own moral house in order.
• Our categorical obligations are not to focus on how our actions cause or enable
other agents to do evil; the focus of our categorical obligations is to keep our
own agency free of moral contamination.

• Agent-centered theories can be divided into those that:

• 1. focus on the mental state of the agent
• 2. those that focus on the nature of the agent’s action
Agent – centered theories: mental states
One Type of Agent – Centered Theory:

- An action is wrong or right because of the intentions that motivated it.

- We are categorically forbidden for intending to cause evils (such as
killing innocents), even to prevent other evils. However, it is acceptable to
cause evils unintentionally, even if we foresee them as effects of our
actions.

* The focus here is on belief, risk, and cause. These are not the same as
intent.
 Agent – Centered Theories:Actions
Assumes that all action originates with a will or volition.

Will + Action = Agency

The focus here is on labeling actions as right or wrong. Then you must
determine if there was agency in committing the act (will + action or
direct Cause)

Ex. Murder – the death must occur; you will be the cause and you meant
to do it.
 Patient – Centered Deontology
These theories are right-based rather than duty –based; some
versions claim to be agent- neutral in the reasoning/obligatios
they give moral agents.

• This ideas are focused on people’s right as a reason to act or

not to act
• This is not to be confused with more discrete rights – the
rights against being killed, or being killed intentionally.
 RECAP
.

DEONTOLOGY
IN ETHICS
 RECAP
. A Duty – based ethic --------- called deontology
Derived from the Greek word “deon” meaning “duty”
 Focuses on the act and not its consequences
 Rules can be express in 2 ways

• negatively positively
• “do not lie” “tell the truth”
• “do not steal” “keep your promises”
 RECAP
Basic assumptions are as follows:
o No matter how morally good their consequences, some
choices are morally forbidden;

o What makes choices right is in conformity with a moral

norm;

o The Right is said to have priority over the Good

 RECAP
Deontological Theories are the following:

o Divine Command Theory

o Golden Rule
o Natural Law and Right Theory
 RECAP
Agency focused on the duty of the moral agent (The person
acting) rather than the right of the person being acted upon
(patient-centered theories).

It has 2 types :
a) Agent-Relative Theory; and
b) Agent-Neutral Duties
II. Autonomy
“ The proper end of teaching is to lead our students toward Autonomy”
- Marshall Gregory
Learning Objectives:

At the end of the lesson's students are expected to:

1. Discussed the importance of autonomy

2. Differentiated the concepts of agency and autonomy to one’s moral

experiences

3. Applied the significance of actions and universalizability in a

particular life’s
Words to Remember:
 Autonomy
 Competence
Morality
 Happiness
 Integrity
 Wisdom
 Respect
Definition From the Greek : autos
(Self), nomos (rule of
law).

What does Broadly meaning, self –

AUTONOMY mean? determination, self – rule,
being your own person,
and self – governing

Refers to a general
capacity of an individual
 AUTONOMY
defined as the state of
synonymous with having control over one's
freedom, independence, own actions, or the state
and self-determination of being independent
from external control.
 AUTONOMY
Ask students for their thoughts (and listen to what they
say). If they are very tired of taking notes, for example, listen
and make a change.

Give students class jobs and other responsibilities. This can

Example be great if there are real responsibilities that they can help with.
Do not make stuff up.

Speak to students as equals. Give them respect and assume

they are mature. Kids are sensitive to how they are treated by
adults and very much appreciate being treated as equals.
Definition  To be accurate with the
information, communicate
the same properly, and if
necessary, persuade them
What does Respecting with a firm conviction.
Autonomy mean?
Definition acting in a manner that
displays a respectful
attitude by refraining from
interfering in personal
What does Respecting affairs
Autonomy mean?
RESPECTING AUTONOMY
(i) independence of thought, inclusive of the ability to “think for oneself”,
make decisions, determine preferences and moral assessment for
oneself;

ii) autonomy of will or intention

which is regarded as the ability (iii) lastly, autonomy of action, which
of a moral agent to decide on involves doing what the agent thinks
his/ her plans of actions and and intends or wills to do.
activities
RESPECTING AUTONOMY
For instance, public health programmed and
policies such as water fluoridation, vaccination,
and quarantine, are justified as moral acts aimed
at protecting the public while nevertheless
infringing on individual autonomy.
Example Similarly, a surgeon who deliberately lies to an anxious 16-
year-old patient about their serious health status, is
definitely infringing on the patient’s autonomy. However,
the principle of beneficence might be invoked to justify
the doctor’s action if such actions could prevent further
harm.
Definition  A specific ability, such as
those involved in a
performance of a specific
task
What does Competence
mean?
Definition a sense of mastery and
efficacy in one’s activities.
One feels that one is capable
at what one does and is able
What does Competence to accomplish projects and
mean? achieve one’s goals.
Definition Ethical competence is
the quest for knowledge
and action that defines
What does Competence
right and wrong
mean? behavior.
Factors that affect competence

a) Physical

b) Psychological

In moral problems the question of competence of the is always

crucial
Conclusion

Principle for respect of autonomy

and competence are crucial in
moral decision making in ethics,
and required a great deal of
thought
PRESENTED BY:

Group 3
Caaya, Robelen
Caluyo, Lee Ann Mae
Camilet, Kaira Mae
Cantallopez, Jeroselyn
Capaciete Joyce
Tabares, Lara
References:

Autonomy powerpoint (slideshare.net)

Autonomy in Ethics: Examples | What is Autonomy in Philosophy? - Vid

eo & Lesson Transcript | Study.com

Deontology intro (slideshare.net)

09.pdf (scielo.org.za)