Deontology is a branch of ETHICS that focuses on the moral obligations and duties of individuals. It is based on the idea that certain actions are inherently right or wrong, regardless of the consequences. Deontology is often contrasted with consequentialism, which holds that the morality of an action should be judged by its outcome. Deontology is often associated with the work of Immanuel Kant, who argued that moral decisions should be made based on universal principles of justice and respect for persons.