what is deontology in ethics

Deontology is an ethical approach that emphasizes the importance of rules and professional duties. It is derived from the Greek words for duty (deon) and science (or study) of (logos). According to this theory, an action is considered morally good because of some characteristic of the action itself, not because of the consequences it produces. Deontology is often associated with the German philosopher Immanuel Kant, who believed that the intent behind chosen actions holds far more importance than the consequences. This ethical theory is characterized by its emphasis on the relationship between duty and the morality of human actions, and it is often seen as being strongly opposed to consequentialism, which judges an action's moral correctness by its consequences