Sunday, November 22, 2009

Putting a Price Tag on Human Life


In the early 1970's, the Ford Motor Company introduced in the market a subcompact automobile called Pinto. The car was a success, with nearly 100,000 units sold between September 1970 and February 1971. Nevertheless, the vehicle became the object of a dark chapter of Ford's history. Due to a design flaw, the fuel tank was easily damaged in rear end collisions, which, in some cases, resulted in deadly fires and explosions. It later came out that the car maker had since long known about the vulnerable fuel tank. In spite of that, the company decided not to take the necessary corrective actions. This decision was based on a cost-benefit analysis that indicated that it would cost approximately $138 million to improve the car safety, while only nearly $49 million would be necessary to pay off eventual lawsuits for the resulting deaths and injuries.

The case related above is far from being unique. Companies and governments often use cost-benefit analysis to put a dollar value on human life.

The first part of the video that follows shows a very interesting lecture on utilitarianism, by Harvard Professor Michael Sandel, in which he discusses cases like this and the ethical considerations involved.




Watch it on Academic Earth


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Saturday, November 7, 2009

The Roots of Human Moral Behavior

When it comes to understanding the sources of moral behavior, Michael Shermer's “The Science of Good and Evil” is the best book I have ever read on the subject. He traces the evolutionary roots of our sense of right and wrong and shows how it emerges out of our life together as social beings.

In the following interview, Shermer provides a summary of the book.



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Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Taboo: Weird or Simply Different?

The cultural differences that exist between human societies all around the globe are fascinating. What some societies consider to be sacred, is seen as disgusting, barbaric or criminal by others. What some consider to be normal, others see as bizarre, irrational, obscene or ridiculous.

Would you eat penis meat? What about letting your kids take part in a self-mutilation ritual? Do you consider rats sacred animals? Would you sell one of your kidneys? (You have two of them and they are yours. Shouldn't you be allowed to do it if you wanted?)

The videos below are extracts from a National Geographic documentary series called "Taboo". They show interesting cases of rituals and traditions practiced in some societies that are shocking to many others.


HUMAN ORGANS SALE



PENIS ON THE MENU


BLODDY RELIGION


DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE A BAD JOB? THINK AGAIN


PAINFUL INITIATION


WHALE MASSACRE OR TRADITION?


DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE A BAD JOB YET? THINK ONCE AGAIN



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