deontology
[dee-on-tol-uh-jee]
- ethics, especially that branch dealing with duty, moral obligation, and right action.
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Origin of deontology
1820–30; < Greek deont- that which is binding (stem of déon, neuter present participle of deîn to bind), equivalent to de- bind + -ont- present participle suffix + -o- + -logy
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
deontological
- philosophy (of an ethical theory) regarding obligation as deriving from reason or as residing primarily in certain specific rules of conduct rather than in the maximization of some good
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deontology
- the branch of ethics dealing with duty, moral obligation, and moral commitment
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Word Origin
C19: from Greek deon duty (see deontic) + -logy
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for deontological
deontology
n.
science of moral duty, 1826, from Greek deont-, comb. form of deon "that which is binding, duty," neuter present participle of dei "is binding;" + -logia "discourse" (see -logy). Said to have been coined by Bentham. Related: Deontological.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper