Which statement best describes Kantian ethics in the provided material?

• A. Moral duties apply universally and include telling the truth
• B. Moral worth is determined by consequences
• C. Morality is rooted in character and virtue
• D. Moral duties vary by situation

Answer: (B)

Kantian ethics is a deontological approach that judges actions by whether they are done from duty and according to a rule that could be universalized. The key idea is that moral duties apply to everyone in all similar situations, and our motives matter: an action is right if it is done out of respect for the moral law, not because it brings good consequences. Telling the truth is a duty because lying cannot be universalized without contradiction and would undermine trust needed for communication.

So the statement that moral duties apply universally and include telling the truth best captures Kant's emphasis on universal principles and the primacy of the motive of duty. The other options describe alternative ethical views: judging morality by consequences points to consequentialism or utilitarianism; basing morality on character and virtue aligns with virtue ethics; and duties varying by situation suggests ethical relativism or situational ethics, which Kant does not endorse.