Q&A: Siren
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
Siren
Question
Do you think it is rational for a person not to go to the stairwell during a siren, assuming it is the middle of the night and he does not want to interrupt his sleep?
It’s possible to divide the answer between a situation where the person knows the siren is caused by missiles from Iran and a situation where he knows the siren is caused by the Houthis.
Answer
In principle, one should go to a protected space. Not because of the danger (which does not exist), but because of the categorical imperative.
Discussion on Answer
It was definitely answered, exactly where you asked: https://mikyab.net/%D7%A9%D7%95%D7%AA/%d7%90%d7%96%d7%a2%d7%a7%d7%94-%d7%91%d7%98%d7%99%d7%9C%d7%99%d7%9D-%d7%95%d7%94%d7%a6%d7%95-%d7%94%d7%a7%d7%98%d7%92%d7%95%d7%A8%D7%99/
Hi, I asked elsewhere and didn’t see that my question had gone up:
A. Does the categorical imperative apply specifically when there is an effect on others? If I’m on a deserted island, does the categorical imperative still apply to me? Is that what defines a moral act, basically?
B. You could invoke the categorical imperative against walking in the street: we wouldn’t want everyone to walk, because someone would certainly get hurt, so I too should be forbidden from walking in the street.
I’d be glad to know.