What does duty-based ethics emphasize?

Duty-based ethics focuses on the moral obligations that individuals have towards others. This ethical framework emphasizes the responsibilities and duties one has to respect the rights and interests of others, irrespective of the outcomes that may arise from those actions. The core idea is that certain actions are inherently right or wrong based on a set of principles or rules, and individuals are obligated to act according to these moral duties. This perspective is grounded in philosophies such as deontology, which advocate for adherence to rules or duties as the basis of ethical decision-making.

In contrast, other approaches mentioned prioritize different aspects: outcomes are emphasized in consequentialist theories, profit maximization for shareholders is a focus of corporate governance principles, and personal happiness plays a central role in virtue ethics or utilitarianism. However, duty-based ethics firmly stands on the premise of fulfilling one's responsibilities to ensure that actions uphold the dignity and rights of others.