Assignment

1)  You are a leader of a corporation and have been asked to decide between some designs

for a child car-safety seat, using information such as that listed below. How much, in your

estimation, would you pay for a seat yourself?  How much, in your estimation, would the

average customer be willing to pay for a safety seat?  How much, therefore, is the life of

a child worth? How are utilitarian principles at work in this case?

Cost  Percentage of deaths at 70 mph

$20  80%

$50  60%

$70  30%

$150  10%

$500 5%

2) Read the "On the Edge" article on page 92 of the text (Working for Elli Lilly & Company).

Discuss the questions that follow:

 1. Discuss Eli Lilly's practice from the perspectives of utilitarianism and rights.

  2. In your judgement, is the policy of using homeless alcoholics for test subjects morally appropriate?