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Is it legal to tow a person on water skis from one hour before and one hour after sunset?

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Final answer:

The legality of towing a person on water skis around sunset varies by local laws and should typically be adhered to unless exceptional circumstances justify breaking the law, such as in a rescue operation where the utility outweighs the risks.

Step-by-step explanation:

The legality of towing a person on water skis from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset varies by jurisdiction and is typically regulated by local boating laws. However, we can draw a parallel to a more generally understood concept, such as the rule of stopping at a red traffic light even under urgent circumstances. Using a Rule Utilitarianism (RU) approach, we may justify breaking a law if doing so results in the greater good or utility. For instance, if a pregnant woman is in labor at 4 am and the vehicle is 2 miles from the hospital with no other vehicles around, the RU would suggest that it is morally acceptable to proceed through the red light to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the mother and child.

Applying this to water skiing, if local laws prohibit water skiing during specific times around sunset, those regulations are likely in place to ensure safety due to poor visibility. However, Rule Utilitarianism would argue that in exceptional circumstances where the benefits greatly outweigh the risks (e.g., a rescue operation), breaking the law could be seen as morally permissible.

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