In its most simple form, a duty is an action that is morally required. In
deontological theories of ethics, duties are often considered as actions that one is required to do
no matter what the circumstances of the actions may be. In a broader sense, the term also has implications regarding what is owed to oneself, other individuals, or the
common good. Duties may be universal or specific.
Universal duties are those involving what is owed to everyone without exception, and
specific duties are those that arise due to specific relations or the possession of certain
rights. The concept of duty is often closely linked with the concepts of
justice, the common good, and
human rights, as it is in Catholic moral thought.
