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Deontological Theories

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    DEONTOLOGICAL THEORIES

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    Deon in Greek means duty

    Deontology is the science of dutyIt is not because of their consequences, butbecause we have a duty not to do badDeontological theory denies that

    consequences are relevant to determiningwhat we ought to doThey hold that certain actions are right notbecause of some benefit but because of the

    nature of these actions or the rules fromwhich they followNon-consequentalist reasoning in ethicsinclude argument based on principles suchas the golden rule

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    KANTIANISMImmanuel Kant (1724-1804)proposed theethic of Duty

    This is in many ways diametrically oppositeto Benthams Utilitarianism

    For Bentham happiness

    Kant goodwill

    An action is morally right, only if the person

    performing it is motivated by a good will.

    The possession of such a will, makes theaction right

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    All actions are performed in accordance with someunderlying maxim or principle

    Kant's ethics are founded on his view of rationalityas the ultimate good and his belief that all peopleare fundamentally rational beings

    This led to the most important part of Kant's ethics,

    the formulation of the Categorical Imperative,which is the criterion for whether a maxim is goodor bad

    The Formulation Rule of Kantianism:Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the

    same time will that it would become a universal law.Act so that you always treat others as an end, and neveras a means to an end only.

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    A good will means the action done forreasons of principle from a sense of

    duty

    Neither self interest nor kindness,loyalty, sympathy or any other laudable

    sentiment, should be the motiveThey do not constitute a specificallymoral motivation for acting

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    How do we now as to when an act is

    done from a sense of duty?Kant says it is done in accordance withCategorical imperative or Law of

    MoralityHe meant that this framework should beapplied to every moral issue regardlessof

    Who is involved

    Who profits

    Who is harmed by the principles once they

    have been implemented

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    DUTIESFidelity

    To keep promises (implicit & explicit)To tell the truth

    ReparationTo compensate people for injury, wrongfully inflicted upon them

    Gratitude

    To return favour that others to for usJustice

    To ensure that goods are distributed according to people, meritsor demerits

    Beneficience

    To do whatever we can to improve the condition of othersSelf improvementTo improve our own condition with respect of virtue andintelligence

    Non malificence

    To avoid injury to others

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    NATURAL LAWEthics of Rights and Justice Natural LawNatural law theory was traditionally aboutprotecting people from unjust or tyrannicalactions by governments

    The natural law was declaring that therewere things they had a right to such as

    LifeLiberty

    PropertyThese were proclaimed as natural rightsbestowed on people by natural law

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    Puts forward the existence of a law whose content isset by nature and that, therefore has validity

    everywhereSocrates and his philosophic heirs, Plato and Aristotle,put forward the existence of natural justice or naturalright

    John Locke (1632-1714) conceptualised the notion ofnatural rights or moral claims that humans wereentitled to

    Among the most important rights conceived areRight to life

    Right to freedomRight to property

    Aristotle is often said to be the father of natural law

    Aristotle notes that, aside from the "particular" lawsthat each people has set up for itself, there is a"common" law that is according to nature

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    The phrase natural lawis opposed to the

    positive law (which is man-made) of a givenpolitical community, society, or nation-state

    Natural law theories have exercised aprofound influence on the development of

    English Common LawThe rise of natural law as a universal systemcoincided with the rise of large empires andkingdoms in the Greek world

    Stoics emphasized the universal ideas ofindividual worth, moral duty, and universalbrotherhood

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    In terms of ethical theory, we could definerights along the following lines:

    Natural rights are certain basic, important,unalienable entitlements that should berespected and protected in every single action

    These rights typically result in the duty ofothers to respect them

    Since the rights of one person can result in acorresponding duty for other persons to

    respect, protect, or facilitateRights and duties are therefore, usually seenas two sides of the same coin

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    The notion of rights is based on the claim onhuman nature that rests mostly on

    philosophical approach and backed up bycertain religious views

    Natural rights or human rights are based on a

    consensus of all human beings about thenature of human dignity

    Because of its simple and plausible viewpoint the rights approach has been very powerful

    throughout history and has substantiallyshaped the constitution of many modernstates


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