Monday 18 October 2010

The teleo vs. deonto thinking

I have been doing quite a bit of reading lately and the above notion intrigues me a lot. Don’t be overwhelmed by those sophisticated terms. They are merely the processes our brains go through in making decisions.

Essentially, a teleological approach in making a decision centres on the consequence(s) of the decision.  You can call that a ‘result driven’ approach.  The what-is-the-benefit-of-this will be ringing in your brain.

The teleological approach is then segregated into 2 different components. 

The egoist teleological approach is the branch that focuses on the consequence(s) on the decision maker. You will only think about the consequence(s) to you, the benefits to you and you alone.  No benefits to you, no go.

The other branch is the utilitarianist teleological approach where the focus of the consequence(s) is on everyone else, probably people affected by the decision.  You will only make that decision if it benefits others.  Kind of like a selfless approach, isn’t it? 

The deontological approach in decision making is one that does not focus on the consequence(s), but the action of the decision itself.  Result doesn’t matter, the focus is on the process, the focus is on the action of the decision.  This approach too, is segregated into 2.

The first is the deontology with the “right” element.  “Right” here represents ‘privilege’.  Based on this, you will make a decision because you believe it is your God-given right to do it.  How it affects you or the people around you does not matter.

The other side of the coin is the “justice” element.  Here, a decision is made because it is the right (i.e. correct) thing to do, without considering whether there is any benefit.  One may conclude that this is the noble approach.

And now, to paint a better picture (apology for using a guy’s perspective)…

If you sex a girl with a condom because you are afraid of infectious disease… you are an egoistic teleologist.

If you sex a girl with a condom because you are afraid you will make her pregnant… you are an utilitarianistic teleologist.

If you sex a girl, with or without condom, because you believe your very existence is to f__k around, you are a right-based deontologist.

If you sex a girl, with or without condom, because the girl is your wife/bf and she was there naked and asking you to do it and you feel it is the right thing to do, you are a justice-based deontologist.

Now… what are you?  Tell me ok…
Off for a business trip… have a good week ahead.




23 comments:

Unicorn Girl said...

very ' deontology ' point of view zewt . Fortunately - my BF is none of the above ( & I hope so ;] )

day-dreamer said...

OMG! Reminds me of Pendidikan Moral at varsity level......

hasilox said...

To have sex with condom just to support the condom manufacturers and rubber tappers. What category is that? haha

Anonymous said...

Aiya, no protection is a problem. Having condom for proctection is also a problem. Must think and evaluate before having sex. Life is stressful enough. Grrrrr...

Best solution is to SNIP it off. No worries at all, no need to use brain energy at all.

Kenny Mah said...

Trust Zewt to clarify all that jargon (which was honestly making my mini-mind ache) with such excellent and arousing examples. :P

And somehow the links at the bottom of the post include:

"3 years ago… Let us be reminded… The price to drive… A penis song"

How fitting. :P

Anonymous said...

hahhhahah i am girl so how to answer ? lol

but i think i am an egoistic teleologist ;]

btw come back soon and blog!!! ;P

fufu said...

i wanna be a justice-based deontologist :)

scarabeus scent said...

an absolutely fantastic post!!!!!! one of my favourites so far. keep it on!

as for me...i'm probably a justice-based deontologist and maybe even more an egoistic teleologist.

TG said...

I'm probably the last. But you didn't tell us what are you :P

Dan-yel said...

Most of the deontological decision making rest on presumptions or rules generated from teleological reasoning. For example, it is presumed that you have a God-given right to make your own decision because the consequence of forcing down decision on someone who would their own situation better is far worse than dictating what you think is a right thing to do.

norick said...

Interesting...i'm noting this down.. haha.. thanks..

I'm utilitarian teleo and justice deonto..
Reason being - I scare to have another pregnancy and also the exact phrase u put down for justice deonto..

norick said...

I keep thinking on your 'better picture' during my lunch hour..

dont think can separate the 2 ideology..I think deonto will come first before the teleo..

base on your picture..one without deonto will not consider sex at all.. haha..

and how would you group a man who actually consider the consequences but decide to proceed without condom?..

flaminglambo said...

Very hard to visualise so you will have to find me a girl to have sex with and I will definitely get back to you on your question.

Anonymous said...

finally a better posting. Your blog has become so lame with all your anti malaysiam/bashing and how good sillypore is.mms

sinlady said...

all those big words become so understandable when you put things in context haha. i love this post :)

Anonymous said...

What if I am all of them?

eiling lim said...

i like the examples given. makes the terms so much easier to digest. I wanted to be an egoistic teleologist but usually ended up as a justice-based deontologist!

j_yenn said...

Ello. Another "thinking deeply" blog entry from Mr Zewt, hey...

zewt said...

Unicorn Girl - does that mean that your bf dont sex you? hmmm...

day-dreamer - hahaha... really?

hasilox - that's economicologist haha!

anon @ 18/10 10.24pm - lost you there...

Life for Beginners - always good to put things into a clearer persective, isnt it?

anon @ 18/10 11.15pm - hmmm... always thinking about yourself eh?

zewt said...

fufu - good ambition.

scarabeus scent - hi there... how have you been?

MKL - me? that's a secret :P

Dan-yel - now... that is deep...

norick - scare to have another pregnancy... but you are not the one sexing but being sexed... as for your question... i call such man one who's either courageous... or a fool.

zewt said...

flaminglambo - hahahaha... cheeky... very cheeky.

anon @ 22/10 6.35am - cant help it... malaysia is so bashable...

sinlady - so... which one are you?

The envoy - then... you're a confusedologist.

eiling lim - i would have thought being an egoistic teleologist would be easy...

j_yenn - it has been a while eh?

Anonymous said...

i judge ppl based on justice based deon, n do things egoistic teleo way, yup call me a hypocrite lol~~~

foreva anon

zewt said...

anon aka foreva anon - arent we all... lol