deontologist
Definition
Noun: A deontologist is a person who adheres to or advocates deontology, an ethical theory that judges the morality of an action based on the action's adherence to rules or duties, rather than on the consequences of the action.
Usage Examples
- (A person who believes moral rules are absolute.)
- (A thinker who grounds ethics in universal rules.)
Advanced Usage
- "to act as a deontologist": to make moral decisions strictly by following principles.
- In the debate, she acted as a deontologist, refusing to break a rule for a good outcome. (She applied duty-based ethics without considering consequences.)
Variants and Related Words
Deontology (n): the ethical theory that emphasizes duties and rules.
- Deontology contrasts with utilitarianism, which focuses on outcomes. (The study of moral obligations.)
Deontological (adj): relating to or based on deontology.
- His deontological approach forbids harming innocents under any circumstances. (Pertaining to duty-based ethics.)
Synonyms
- Duty theorist: someone who bases ethics on duties.
- Rule-based ethicist: a person who follows fixed moral rules.
Related Idioms
- "Follow the rule book": to rigidly adhere to established principles.
- A deontologist tends to follow the rule book even when it causes hardship. (They prioritize rules over outcomes.)