Ford pinto case ethics. Ford Pinto Engineering Ethics Case: Free Essay Example 2022-10-29
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The Industrial Revolution, which took place from the 18th to 19th centuries, was a period of significant economic and social change. It marked a shift from an agrarian and handicraft economy to one dominated by industry and machine manufacturing. While the Industrial Revolution brought about many positive changes, it also had negative impacts on society and the environment.
One positive aspect of the Industrial Revolution was the increase in productivity and efficiency. The use of machinery and the division of labor allowed for goods to be produced more quickly and at a lower cost. This led to an increase in the standard of living for many people, as they were able to purchase more goods and services at lower prices. The Industrial Revolution also created new job opportunities and industries, allowing people to move from rural areas to urban centers in search of work.
Another positive impact of the Industrial Revolution was the development of new transportation and communication systems. The steam engine and the railroad allowed for the rapid movement of goods and people, and the telegraph allowed for faster communication over long distances. These advancements facilitated trade and helped to integrate global markets.
However, the Industrial Revolution also had negative impacts on society and the environment. One negative aspect was the exploitation of labor, as factory owners often paid low wages and provided poor working conditions for their employees. Children and women were often employed in factories, and they often worked long hours in hazardous conditions. The Industrial Revolution also led to the rise of urbanization, as people moved from rural areas to urban centers in search of work. This led to overcrowding and poor living conditions in cities, as there was often a lack of adequate housing and sanitation.
Another negative impact of the Industrial Revolution was the pollution of the environment. The use of coal as an energy source led to air pollution, and the disposal of waste in rivers and streams led to water pollution. The Industrial Revolution also had a negative impact on agriculture, as the demand for factory goods led to the enclosure of land, resulting in the displacement of small farmers.
In conclusion, the Industrial Revolution brought about many positive changes, such as increased productivity and efficiency, the development of new transportation and communication systems, and the creation of new job opportunities and industries. However, it also had negative impacts on society and the environment, including the exploitation of labor, overcrowding and poor living conditions in cities, and pollution of the environment.
Legal Ethical Issues Surrounding the Ford Pinto
Although the Pinto passed the NHTSA test, Ford officials knew that the Pinto was prone to catch fire when struck from the rear, even in low-speed collisions, thus it was unsafe to drive the car without any technical improvements implemented. The most successful was the use of a rubber bladder and liner developed by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. In Detroit, worry was fast fading to panic as the Japanese, not to mention the Germans, began to gobble up more and more of the subcompact auto market. Ford Motor Company faced a variety of very expensive litigations as well. Retrieved March 4, 2016. Utilitarianism suffers from the difficulty that costs and benefits may not be equally distributed. It was also one of the most popular vehicles available, with over three million vehicles being produced between 1971 and 1980.
As anticipated, the study reveals that the cost of adding extra materials exceeds the cost of potential accident expenses. The gas tank of the Pinto exploded on impact. The decision of the company was based on this analysis — Pinto entered the market and brought revenue. Ford said its investigation of complaints revealed that the possibility of fire existed because the vapors in the air cleaner could be ignited by a backfire thru the carburetor. In 1977 the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration claimed that a safety defect existed in Pintos manufactured from 1971 to 1976. Іt wоuld nоt hаvе mаdе а mоrаl dіffеrеnсе іf Fоrd hаd раssеd thе sаvіngs оntо thеіr соnsumеrs, аs thеу wоuld hаvе еnсrоасhеd оn thеіr сustоmеr rіght tо lіfе аnd thеіr rіght tо mаkе аn іnfоrmеd dесіsіоn. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
Ford Pinto Engineering Ethics Case: Free Essay Example
What undoubtedly swayed the jury was the testimony of former GM safety engineer Ronald E. Handbook of system safety and security: Cyber risks and risk management, cyber security, threat analysis, functional safety, software systems, and cyber physical systems. To counter this belief, critics of utilitarian ethics will argue that no action should be regarded as good if the integrity of human life is at stake. Тhе Fоrd Моtоr Соmраnу usеd thіs dаtа аlоng wіth оthеr stаtіstісаl studіеs tо dеtеrmіnе thе соst bеnеfіt оf іmрrоvіng thе sаfеtу оf thе Fоrd Ріntо соmраrеd tо thе соst оf lоss оf lіfе. Іf thе соrроrаtіоn соntіnuеd tо mаnufасturе thе Ріntо thеу knеw thеrе wаs а rіsk оf mаnу lаwsuіts сlаss асtіоn аnd lіtіgаtіоn оn thе hоrіzоn. Throughout all the model years, Bobcats offered various appearance options that were similar to the Pinto's. The interior included red, white, and blue cloth and vinyl bucket seats, full carpeting as well as a deluxe steering wheel.
The vehicles had prototype safety features which engineers had built while working alongside suppliers in the three tests which did not result in fires. In 2004, Worst Cars of All Time, noting that its problems helped create an opening in the US market for small cars from Japan. Basically this theory aims for the best outcomes of the society in general. Ethics: Consequentialist Theories Internet Encyclopaedia of Philosophy2006. Notes Case study from the 1995 Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl. American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research.
For example, if the UK government fails to regulate carbon emissions, acid rain falls on Sweden. Grimshaw and Gray sued Ford Motor Company solely for this carelessness. In relations to Ford Pinto, the case study shows that is was about an accident which took place involving a Ford Pinto and a Chevrolet Van which hit the Ford Pinto from behind. Ford also tested several different vehicle modifications that could improve rear impact performance. Automobile engineers were more concerned with cost containment and design, and the example reveals how engineers made judgments within the framework of marketing goals. But deolontological upholds that all rules and duties must be followed regardless of the consequences or outcome of the situation. Part 5: Aftermath After the information about the events and decisions made at Ford reached the public domain, several adjustments were made.
The judge in the case advised jurors that Ford should be convicted if it had clearly disregarded the harm that might result from its actions, and that disregard represented a substantial deviation from acceptable standards of conduct. The Ford Pinto on which Grimshaw and Gray were travelling was involved in an accident as a result of this recklessness, and both cars were left on their frames. In relating its consequential content to the Ford Pinto case, it would seem that the application of ethics had been dismissed in favour of profits, reputation and unethical practices. Ford Motor Company was aware of the fact that the Ford Pinto gas-tank design was faulty but unethically went ahead to produce and sell the car. In this test, a Pinto sedan exhibited "excessive fuel tank leakage" when towed rearward into a fixed barrier at 21. These include harm, honesty, justice and rights. He noted that fires, and rear-end fires, in particular, are a very small portion of overall auto fatalities.
This would occur because of the high cost of recalling more than 19 million vehicles due to bad publicity which was worse than anyone predicted. Nor can the theory measure human suffering or loss, as Ford found, to its cost; it cannot predict consequences accurately or quantify benefits and harms, simply by applying a cost-benefit measure. And the basis for establishing that shocking solution, to save a few bucks. In comparison, the utilitarian principle argues that every moral issue is determined by the consequences it produces to the general society. For its part, Ford has always denied that the Pinto is unsafe compared with other cars of its type and era. Аs а tооl fоr mоrаlіtу іt іs usеful but flаwеd аs а mеаsurе оf аssіgnіng а vаluе tо humаn lіfе аnd suffеrіng. Former UCLA law professor Gary T.
Handout: Utilitarianism and Business: Ford Pinto case
Retrieved March 6, 2016. According to this argument, Ford did not sacrifice all safety measures in their vehicles; it was a question of to what extent the manufacturer had felt that safety features were necessary Leggett, 1999. If a tax is then placed on UK business to pay for this, the cost is borne by the UK taxpayer, the benefit is enjoyed by Sweden. Do you want a unique paper written for you by the best essay writers? Ethical Responsibilities of Engineers in Large Organizations: The Pinto Case — Volume 1, Issue 1, Fall 1981. Instead of having the tank above the rear axle, it was behind it. Part 2: Historical Events At the moment when Ford was producing the Pinto, it already had access to the technology that would make it possible for new design to be installed into the car, and this would significantly reduce the likelihood of an explosion. Some observers thought not when, in February 1993, an Atlanta jury held the General Motors Corporation responsible for the death of a Georgia teenager in the fiery crash of one of its pickup trucks.
