Suppose That Installing an Overhead Pedestrian Walkway Would Cost a College

question 138

Multiple Choice

Suppose that installing an overhead pedestrian walkway would cost a college town $150,000. The walkway is expected to reduce the risk of fatality by 3 percent, and the cost of a human life is estimated at $10 million. The town should

• A)install the walkway because the estimated benefit is twice the cost.
• B)install the walkway because the estimated benefit equals the cost.
• C)not install the walkway, since the cost is twice the estimated benefit.
• D)install the walkway, since the cost of even a single life is too great not to take action.

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Definitions:

Symbolic Interactionism

A sociological perspective focusing on how individuals interact with each other and derive meanings from these interactions through the use of symbols.

Social Settings

The physical or social context in which people operate, influencing their behavior, interactions, and social relationships.

Meanings And Symbols

Central concepts in sociology and anthropology that explore how societies use symbols and assign meanings to various aspects of life, contributing to cultural identity and social cohesion.

Verstehen

A German term meaning "understanding," used in social sciences to describe a method of empathetically understanding human behavior from the actor's point of view.