What would ford do applying relativism

Assignment Help Other Subject

Reference no: EM132974077

Choose ONE of the following cases, and answer the questions that follow.

Case A : Ford Pinto

Ford Pinto was a subcompact vehicle that Ford Motor Company manufactured from 1970-1980. The Pinto caught on with consumers, and sales of the vehicle were high. However, serious problems quickly arose regarding the design of the Pinto. The gas tank on the vehicles was placed directly behind the rear axle instead of above it, with only nine inches of space between the gas tank and axle. Bolts were also placed close to the gas tank, increasing the risk that they could puncture the tank in an accident. Additionally, the fuel filler pipe design created a high probability that the pipe would disconnect from the tank and cause gasoline to spill out in rear-end collisions. Ford designed the gas tank with hopes of creating additional trunk space.

Ford knew of the potential vulnerability of the Ford Pinto design but did not change the design due to the costs involved. In deciding whether to institute a recall, Ford instituted a cost-benefit analysis.

Ford justified that making the design change would cost approximately $11 per vehicle. At 11 million vehicles and 1.5 million trucks, the estimated costs would approximate $137 million. Ford estimated that making the design change would result in 180 fewer burn deaths, 180 fewer serious burn injuries, and 2,100 fewer burned vehicles. At an estimate of $200,000 per death, $67,000 per injury, and $700 per vehicle, Ford calculated that the societal benefits of the design change would equal $49.5 million-much less than the costs of making the change.

Which type of ethical theory does it appear Ford applied in its decision not to rectify the design of the Ford Pinto?

1. What would the decision have been if applying a deontological ethical perspective?

2. What would Ford do applying relativism?

3. And what about virtue ethics?

Case B: Sherrin Footballs

"On Saturday (September 2012), the Herald revealed that Sherrin balls were being hand-stitched by children as young as 10 for as little as 12¢ a ball. The children, almost all of them girls, were being pulled out of school to stitch balls for up to 10 hours a day, seven days a week. Sherrin claimed it knew nothing of the child labour and promised an investigation." Can employing child labour ever be ethical?

Analyse the ethical position of Sherrin Balls using Utilitarianism, Deontological and Relativism theories.

Reference no: EM132974077

Questions Cloud

How much will mary be able to spend each year : How much will Mary be able to spend each year? John is going to establish a University Fund for his daughter Mary, who has just been born.

Analyse the ethical position of sherrin balls : Sherrin claimed it knew nothing of the child labour and promised an investigation." Can employing child labour ever be ethical

Applying a deontological ethical perspective : Which type of ethical theory does it appear Ford applied in its decision not to rectify the design of the Ford Pinto - What would Ford do applying relativism

Prepare reversing entries where appropriate : Prepare reversing entries where appropriate. Where no reversing entry is required, explain why. Wages earned but not paid total $2050.

What would ford do applying relativism : What would the decision have been if applying a deontological ethical perspective and What would Ford do applying relativism

Define estate tax as provided under the nirc : How do you apply Planning and Policy Making in a family business set-up? Cite examples/scenarios.

What is direct central bank intervention in currency market : Would you characterize the U.S. dollar as a freely floating or dirty float system? What is direct central bank intervention in the currency markets?

How might affect the value of the canadian dollar : Australia's central bank decides to increase the value of the Australian dollar against the Japanese yen. How might it use direct intervention to do this?

Prepare a value proposition for the future : Prepare a Value Proposition for the future of the accounting profession - You may use any of the examples of template provided in the lecture slides.

User Account

All Pages