Deontology is word derived from a Greek word Deon, meaning something which is binding or a necessity. This word is defined as an ethical theory that the ethics of a deed should at all times be based on whether that action itself is correct or incorrect. This should be judged considering some set of guidelines instead of basing them majorly on the penalties of the act. A fitting example is that people usually believe that murdering someone is bad not considering the reason why the murder committed that act, maybe it was in personal defense. At times this word is described as responsibility, or law based morals. The core reason is that law binds someone to his or her responsibility. (Kant, 4)
Roles played by duty
Kant in his moral philosophy gives three roles of duty. In these three roles, the third is a derivative of the first two. According to his first role of duty, duty guides a person to do an act after some thought about what he or she wants to do thus using common sense. This duty guides one not to act contrary to the duty or where by someone action does not concur with the duty and lastly a case whereby someone’s deeds matches with their duty. The reason behind this is that they are motivated by duty. Kant goes ahead and elaborates on the last two with an example of a shop keeper who decides not to overcharge a new customer so as to maintain his or her reputation. (Kant, 45)
The second role of duty states that “an action from duty has its moral worth not in the purpose to be attained by it but in the maxim in accordance with which it is decided upon, and therefore does not depend upon the realization of the object of the action but merely upon the principle of volition in accordance with which the action is done without regard for any object of the faculty of desire” Here, Kant meant that the worth of a behavior lies not on its penalties whether the deed was something intended or real but on the motive that the action was acted upon. (Kant, 46)
The third role of duty which is a combination of the two states that ‘duty is necessity of action from respect for law.’ This last one was the highest code of ethics that needs to be adhered to. It summarizes the two. (Kant, 46)
Roles played by good will
The first role of good will is to act for the sake of duty, since one has been assigned a specific duty either by law or nature then it is their responsibility to act out of good will and not because they are inclined to do something. (Kant, 59)
Secondly the good will’s role is to continue the loyal deeds from a person’s conduct. This implies that an action can be good because of the set principles but it lacks ethical value. This means that a will cannot be used to determine a moral value but it is the principle which determines it. (Kant, 59)
Lastly, the role of good will is to make duty the necessity of acting from respect of the law. Individuals are expected to work out of good will respecting the set out rules. (Kant, 60)
Transformation of a will to a good will
According to cant, the will becomes a good will when it is fundamentally good and its worth is wholly self-contained and completely self-governing of its external associations and it ceases to act conferring to a set of laid down rules. (Kant, 47)
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