what were the marginal benefits and marginal costs of the mission to save Private Ryan?

After watching the video clip from Saving Private Ryan, what were the marginal benefits and marginal costs of the mission to save Private Ryan? Make sure to consider both the explicit and implicit costs involved. Answer the following questions:
a) What costs and benefits were relevant to Tom Hanks’ character when considering the choice between “the mission and the man?” In his mind, could he rationalize whether the marginal benefits outweighed the marginal costs?
b) Describe a choice you made at some point in your life, and explain it in terms of marginal benefits and marginal costs.
c) Can you think of a time in your life when comparing marginal benefits and marginal costs would have been inappropriate?

ANSWER
a) **Costs and benefits relevant to Captain Hanks’ character:**

**Costs:**

* Explicit costs:
* The lives of his men.
* The physical and emotional toll on his men.
* The risk of failing the mission and not saving Private Ryan.
* Implicit costs:
* The moral cost of sacrificing his men’s lives for one man.
* The potential long-term psychological ramifications of the mission.

**Benefits:**

* Explicit benefits:
* Saving Private Ryan’s life.
* Boosting morale among the troops.
* Fulfilling his orders and completing the mission.
* Implicit benefits:
* Knowing that he did the right thing, even if it was difficult.
* Earning the respect of his men and his superiors.

**Could Captain Hanks rationalize whether the marginal benefits outweighed the marginal costs?**

Captain Hanks could rationalize whether the marginal benefits outweighed the marginal costs of the mission by considering the following:

* The importance of saving Private Ryan’s life to his family and friends.
* The potential impact on morale among the troops if the mission failed.
* His duty to follow orders and complete the mission.
* The moral cost of sacrificing his men’s lives for one man.
* The potential long-term psychological ramifications of the mission.

Ultimately, Captain Hanks decided that the marginal benefits of the mission outweighed the marginal costs. He believed that it was important to save Private Ryan’s life, even if it meant risking the lives of his own men. He also believed that he had a duty to follow orders and complete the mission.

b) **A choice I made at some point in my life, explained in terms of marginal benefits and marginal costs:**

When I was in high school, I had the opportunity to try out for the school play. I had always wanted to be an actor, but I was also nervous about trying out. I knew that the competition would be tough, and I wasn’t sure if I was good enough.

**Costs:**

* Explicit costs:
* The time and effort required to prepare for the audition.
* The risk of being rejected and not getting a part in the play.
* Implicit costs:
* The emotional toll of being rejected.
* The potential to damage my self-confidence.

**Benefits:**

* Explicit benefits:
* The opportunity to act in a play.
* The chance to meet new people and make new friends.
* Implicit benefits:
* Gaining experience and confidence as an actor.
* Developing my creative skills.

**Could I rationalize whether the marginal benefits outweighed the marginal costs?**

I could rationalize whether the marginal benefits outweighed the marginal costs of trying out for the play by considering the following:

* My strong desire to be an actor.
* The opportunity to learn from experienced actors and directors.
* The chance to challenge myself and grow as an artist.
* The potential to make a positive impact on the audience.

Ultimately, I decided that the marginal benefits of trying out for the play outweighed the marginal costs. I was accepted into the play, and it was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

c) **A time in my life when comparing marginal benefits and marginal costs would have been inappropriate:**

Comparing marginal benefits and marginal costs would have been inappropriate when I was deciding whether to go to the hospital after I had a car accident. I was in pain, but I didn’t want to waste time and money going to the hospital if it wasn’t necessary. However, I knew that it was important to get checked out to make sure that I wasn’t seriously injured.

In this case, the marginal benefits of going to the hospital outweighed the marginal costs, even though I couldn’t quantify the benefits in monetary terms. My health was more important than the time and money I would spend going to the hospital.