deon-, deont- +

Relating to the concept of moral obligation.

The field of logic that is concerned with obligation, permission, and related concepts.

Relating to philosophical theories that state that the moral content of an action is not wholly dependent on its consequences.

The branch of ethics dealing with right action and the nature of duty, without regard to the goodness or value of motives or the desirability of the ends of any act.

Emphasis on universal imperatives; such moral laws, duties, obligations, prohibitions, and the like (sometimes also called imperativism).

Deontologism is usually contrasted with teleologism (an emphasis on goals) or consequentialism (an emphasis on results); but sometimes it is also contrasted with egoism or eudaimonism (an emphasis on personal happiness or fulfillment as opposed to conformance with moral imperatives).

Someone who practices deontology; that is, duty or moral obligation.

The science of duty; that branch of knowledge which deals with moral obligations.

Coined by the English philosopher Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) in 1826.