BharatNotes Deontology
An ethical theory that judges the morality of actions based on adherence to rules, duties, and obligations — an action is right if it conforms to a moral rule, regardless of its consequences.
Context & Background
Immanuel Kant's Categorical Imperative (1785) — "Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law."
UPSC Exam Relevance
Kant's three formulations of Categorical Imperative; relevance to rule-based governance and civil service conduct; criticism: rigidity, cannot handle conflicting duties; contrast with consequentialism in case studies.
