A deontologist wants to hurry across busy traffic to make a meeting she is late for but doesn't want to wait for the "walk" signal. In trying to decide if this is acceptable, she wants to know whether or not the possible action is a categorical imperative. What question should she ask herself?
A) "Should I place my own success in my career above the safety of those around me?"
B) "Should all people late for important meetings ignore crosswalk signals?"
C) "Is the traffic law that dictates one must wait for a crossing signal an ethical or reasonable one?"
D) "Would most people sympathize with my decision to rush across before the signal?"

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Deontological ethics, particularly as formulated by Immanuel Kant, emphasizes actions that should be universally applicable. The question "Should all people late for important meetings ignore crosswalk signals?" directly addresses the concept of a categorical imperative, asking if the action could be universally applied as a moral law.

A Deontologist Wants to Hurry Across Busy Traffic to Make