DEONTOS. One also speaks about duty ethics. In duty ethics something bad is considered always bad, even if the outcome would be good, because there is no “good” as such. All that is good is the intention, good will, which implies the acceptance of certain moral laws. For example, ethical experts disapprove of torture, even if it can save lives.
Although the categorical imperative is absolute, it is not standard. It is a moral imperative for self-awareness, while a standard is a social rule that is valid for individuals. For the single individual, the norm is one facet of a heteronomous morality system.
