“A Local D.A. Charges the Pinto with Murder—and Watergate's James Neal Comes to Its Defense,” was one of many headlines in the 1980’s that demanded the attention of every automobile manufacturer. In 2005, Fortune Magazine called the Pinto Fires Case one of the 20 business decisions that “helped create the business world as it is today,” (Fortune Magazine). The Ford Pinto was a vehicle produced by Ford under the leadership of Lee Iacocca. The decision to create the Ford Pinto came in 1968 as the Germans and Japanese were eyeing market share in the United States Small Car Market. By 1971, Ford had created the Pinto, which at the time had the shortest production time in automotive history. Despite several issues and concerns with the design of
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The three girls died because the Ford Pinto’s fuel tank ruptured from the collision and burst into flames. This was not the first incident where a Pinto had caught flames. The Pinto was being investigated and there was some debate about the safety of the Ford Pinto, especially its vulnerability to catching fire in low-speed rear-end collisions, (Textbook). Another fatality caused by the Pinto’s fuel tank was on May 28, 1972, when Mrs. Gray, accompanied by 13-year-old, Richard Grimshaw, were struck from behind by a 1962 Ford Galaxie. At the moment of impact, the Pinto caught fire and its interior was engulfed in flames. According to an expert, the impact of the Galaxie had driven the Pinto's gas tank forward and caused it to be punctured by the flange, or one of the bolts on the differential housing. The fuel sprayed from the punctured tank had entered the passenger compartment through gaps resulting from the separation of the rear wheel well sections from the floor pan. By the time the Pinto came to rest after the collision, both occupants had sustained serious burns. When they emerged from the vehicle, their clothing was almost completely burned off. Mrs. Gray died a few days later of congestive heart failure because of the burns. Grimshaw managed to survive but only through heroic medical measures. He underwent …show more content…
Kant maintains that for an action to be considered moral, it should first remove the “what it performs or effects” and secondly the “attainment of some proposed end.” In removing these motivation and outcomes of an action, how can an action be considered moral? In applying Kant’s ethics to the Ford Pinto case, we would begin by examining the “good will” in Ford’s decision. Ford was greatly motivated as imports were eating up more and more of the subcompact auto market, and they wanted to claim a share of the market as well as sell a substantial number of cars. There was no “good will” in Ford’s decision, they were motivated by money and competition; there was no regard for their duty to ensure that their car was as safe as possible for the consumers. Kant’s theory of morality is based on duty and good will; the reason and consequences are irrelevant. Using Kant’s ethics, we can further examine the morality of Ford in knowingly selling unsafe cars by applying the universal test. If there was a rule that it is acceptable for all automakers to forego safety standards in the interest of competition and profit, it could never pass the criteria provided by Kant. Reason would not support such a position, since the executives at Ford would themselves be in the same position as
The three girls died because the Ford Pinto’s fuel tank ruptured from the collision and burst into flames. This was not the first incident where a Pinto had caught flames. The Pinto was being investigated and there was some debate about the safety of the Ford Pinto, especially its vulnerability to catching fire in low-speed rear-end collisions, (Textbook). Another fatality caused by the Pinto’s fuel tank was on May 28, 1972, when Mrs. Gray, accompanied by 13-year-old, Richard Grimshaw, were struck from behind by a 1962 Ford Galaxie. At the moment of impact, the Pinto caught fire and its interior was engulfed in flames. According to an expert, the impact of the Galaxie had driven the Pinto's gas tank forward and caused it to be punctured by the flange, or one of the bolts on the differential housing. The fuel sprayed from the punctured tank had entered the passenger compartment through gaps resulting from the separation of the rear wheel well sections from the floor pan. By the time the Pinto came to rest after the collision, both occupants had sustained serious burns. When they emerged from the vehicle, their clothing was almost completely burned off. Mrs. Gray died a few days later of congestive heart failure because of the burns. Grimshaw managed to survive but only through heroic medical measures. He underwent …show more content…
Kant maintains that for an action to be considered moral, it should first remove the “what it performs or effects” and secondly the “attainment of some proposed end.” In removing these motivation and outcomes of an action, how can an action be considered moral? In applying Kant’s ethics to the Ford Pinto case, we would begin by examining the “good will” in Ford’s decision. Ford was greatly motivated as imports were eating up more and more of the subcompact auto market, and they wanted to claim a share of the market as well as sell a substantial number of cars. There was no “good will” in Ford’s decision, they were motivated by money and competition; there was no regard for their duty to ensure that their car was as safe as possible for the consumers. Kant’s theory of morality is based on duty and good will; the reason and consequences are irrelevant. Using Kant’s ethics, we can further examine the morality of Ford in knowingly selling unsafe cars by applying the universal test. If there was a rule that it is acceptable for all automakers to forego safety standards in the interest of competition and profit, it could never pass the criteria provided by Kant. Reason would not support such a position, since the executives at Ford would themselves be in the same position as