The Ford Pinto Case

707 Words3 Pages
4.) Is Cost–benefit analysis a legitimate tool? What role, if any, should it play in moral deliberation? Critically access the example of cost- benefit analysis given in the case study. Is there anything unsatisfactory about it? Could it have been improved upon in some way? Cost-benefit analysis is a legitimate tool, by using the lowest cost to obtain the biggest profit out of it. However, it is unacceptable to sacrifice human life in exchange of paying a lower production costs. Before they made any decision, they should hold an ethical meeting about the improvement of fuel tank, if they would change their mind by paying more then people would not have to die. In this case, I think Cost-benefit analysis should not be use in this case, because it is very unethical and inhumanity to determine a number of life that have to sacrifice, just because the unwillingness of Ford to pay more for the adjustments of fuel systems. When applying cost benefit analysis in this case study, Ford will either improve the fuel tank or chosen not to go ahead with the fuel tank adjustment, then at least 180 will burn to death, 180 will be injuries, and 2100 vehicles will be burned. Ford was making a decision based on numbers that seems to be right, but it is allowing a certain number of people to die or be injured even though they could have prevented it with paying more for the alteration of fuel tank. This seems to be a disregard for human life. From a human rights perspective, Ford disregarded the injured individual's rights and therefore, in making the decision not to make adjustments to the fuel system, acted unethically. The suggested improvement outweighs their benefits; they do not want to bear the cost. Ford could bargain with manufacturer for a lower cost of alteration of the tank, then maybe they can change their mind and pinto wouldn’t burn so many people
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