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Deontological vs. Teleological

Latonya Brown

ADJ/235

July 12, 2010

Mr. Kevin Kolbe

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Ethical systems can broadly be classified into deontological and teleological ethical

systems. Deontological ethics believed that the morality of an act is based in the act itself (also

called non consequentialist ethics) whereas teleological ethics believes that the morality of an act

is based on the outcome or consequences of the act (also called consequentialist ethics). There

are seven major ethical systems; the first is Ethical Formalism-what is good is that which

conforms to the categorical imperative. Second is Utilitarianism-which is implying what is good

is that which results in the greatest utility for the greatest number. Third is Religion-which

means what is good is that which conforms to the god’s will. Fourth is Ethics of virtue-which is

what is good is that which conforms to the golden menu. Fifth is Ethics of care-which means

what is good is that which meets the need of those concerned. The sixth ethical system is

Egoism-which means what is good is that which benefits me. The last system is Natural Law –

which is what is good is that benefits me. Accordingly all seven of them can be subcategorized

into both deontological and teleological ethical systems.

According to the Spinello there are two classes of ethical theories; teleological theories

and deontological theories. Teleological ethical theories focus importance on ends or goals; they

give priority to what is good over what is right, evaluating actions by the goals they attain or by

their maximization of consequences. Teleological approach would take away rights in order to

maximize the common good. Deontological theories emphasize duty and obligation;

Deontological simply means the study (or science). They give priority to what is right or moral

actions are either right or wrong, regardless of the consequences they produce. According to the

Wikipedia the deontological system basically has a duty based obligation; a strict adherence to

rules and if so holistic approach is taken it means following a deontological system of morality.
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The deontological ethical system believes that the morality of an act is based in the act

itself, whereas the teleological ethical system believes that the morality of an act is based on the

outcome or consequences of the act. In deontological ethical system motivation matters, some

acts are inherently good, and others are inherently bad, making the consequences of the act

irrelevant. For example, charity is a moral act, giving money to a poor person is morally correct.

If the person decides that they want to buy drugs with the money; the original act of charity is

still considered moral. The result in the teleological system matters; an act of good or bad

depending on the results it brings about. The consequences of an act are what is judged. For

example, an act of charity again might not be moral if drug abuse is an immoral consequence. If

an act of charity supports drug abuse then the act could be considered immoral.

According to Wadsworth (2005), Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) believed that the

morality of an action should be determined by how much it contributes to the good of the

majority. Human nature seeks to maximize pleasure and avoid pain, and a moral system must be

consistent with this nature. Utilitarianism is teleological. Ethical formalism is a type of ethical

theory defines moral judgments in terms of their form rather than their content (judgments about

what actions will best promote human well-being). The term also carries critical connotations.

Kant, for example has been criticized for defining morality in terms of the formal feature of

being a “universal law”, and then attempting to derive from this formal feature various concrete

moral duties (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethical_formalism). A religion is set of common

beliefs and practices generally held by a group of people, “A religion is sometimes used

interchangeable with “faith or “belief system”, but is more socially defined than that of personal

convictions. For example, if one does prayer before doing any new things, then that ppperson

has religious values; religion is considered deontological.

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The natural law theory holds that morality is based on human nature; for example John

Locke claims that because people are as a matter of fact, all equally human they out to be treated

the same; Natural law is deontological. Ethics of virtue is a branch of moral philosophy that

emphasizes character, rather than rules or consequences as the key element of ethical thinking.

For example, a person who has developed the virtue of generosity is often referred to as a

generous person because he or she tends to be generous in all circumstances. Moreover, a person

who has developed virtues will be naturally disposed to act in ways that are consistent with

moral principles; ethics virtue is deontological.

Ethics of care is rights based ethics that focuses on individual rights as the basis of

fairness and justice. When choosing a course of action, the ethical choice would be that which

respects legal or individual rights over the general welfare. For example; a nurse who personally

wants to help a patient die, but will not do so because it violates professional duty. This shows

that the ethics of care must confront situations in which bona fide requirements of impartially

conflict with acting partially from care; ethics care is deontological. Egoism is a teleological

theory of ethics that sets as its goal the benefit, leasure, or greatest good of the oneself alone
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