Deontology is the study of moral rules and responsibilities. It is often used to understand the foundation of social reality, but it can also be applied to an individual’s life. As a business owner, you may not have heard of deontology before, but it is a useful way to understand the different types of moral rules and responsibilities you have.

There are three main ways that deontic powers (or moral rules and responsibilities) can be connected to an agent, or in this case, a college student. The first is when they are imposed on you. For example, laws that you must follow or rules set by your university are imposed on you. The second is when you voluntarily accept them. This could include things like joining a business network or organization that has its own set of rules or taking on a leadership role within that group.

But there is a third, and less known, category of deontic binding which is called self-bound or autogenic. When a business owner actively creates and binds rules and responsibilities for themselves, this occurs. It’s like setting a personal goal for yourself, for example, “I will wake up early every morning to study for my license”, it’s a commitment you made to yourself and a responsibility you have.

As a business owner, or business leader, it is important to understand the different types of moral rules and responsibilities that you have. Some of them are imposed on you, while others you voluntarily accept. But there are also those that you create and bind to yourself. By understanding these different types of deontic binding, you can better understand your own moral obligations and how they shape your actions and decisions.

It’s not just a matter of knowing about these types of deontic binding, but also about knowing when you are doing it, and even more important, when you should be doing it. Knowing the kind of deontic structure you are dealing with will help you take the right approach when it comes to managing your moral duties and responsibilities.

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