Deontology

Origin

From Ancient Greek δέον (deon, "that which is binding, needful, right, proper") + λόγος (logos, "argument").

Full definition of deontology

Noun

1. (ethics) The ethical study of duties, obligations, and rights, with an approach focusing on the rightness or wrongness of actions themselves and not on the goodness or badness of the consequences of those actions.

Coordinate terms

• consequentialism
• utilitarianism

Derived terms

• deontological
• deontologist

Related terms

• deontic