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duty

moral
Also known as: obligation, responsibility

Quick Summary

The concept of duty, in a moral context, refers to an obligation that one must fulfill. This obligation is not based on personal desires or potential happiness, but rather on rational principles that should apply universally. Immanuel Kant, a prominent philosopher, argued that actions have moral worth only when performed out of duty for its own sake, not for any other motive or consequence. This ethical framework, known as deontology, emphasizes that certain actions are morally right or wrong in themselves, regardless of their outcomes. Moral duties can stem from various sources, including kinship, reciprocity, and societal norms, forming the basis of ethical systems across cultures.12345

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