English edit

Etymology edit

From deontology +‎ -ical (1832). The specialised sense in normative ethics is due to C. D. Broad (1930).

Adjective edit

deontological (comparative more deontological, superlative most deontological)

  1. (ethics, philosophy) Of or relating to deontology.
    Antonym: non-deontological
    • 1930, C. D. Broad, Five Types of Ethical Theory, 206f:
      Deontological theories hold that there are ethical propositions of the form: 'Such and such a kind of action would always be right (or wrong) in such and such circumstances, no matter what its consequences might be.'

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