Is one human life worth more than another?

Master Cthulhu · 06-25-2009, 10:25 AM

I think this is one of the questions of life, and after a while of thought on the subject I cannot come up with a conclusion.

What do you think?

glatt · 06-25-2009, 10:57 AM

Yes. My life and the lives of my family and friends are worth more than the lives of complete strangers. Especially strangers who don't hold critical roles in society.

lumberjim · 06-25-2009, 11:02 AM

The life(i assume you mean the continuation of) that has more left is worth more.

An 11 year old is worth more than a 60 yr old.

Trilby · 06-25-2009, 11:09 AM

What if the 11 year old was in a vegetative state or had an undetected disorder that would kill him in 10 years? And the 60 year old was, like, Einstein?

Griff · 06-25-2009, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brianna

What if the 11 year old was a vegan or had some other undetected disorder that would kill him in 10 years? And the 60 year old was, like bacon, awesome?

edit for clarity

glatt · 06-25-2009, 11:16 AM

If you take the view that human life is sacred, that it is infinitely valuable, then all lives are equal.

infinity time 60 years of life left equals infinity
infinity times 1 year of life left equals infinity

So you can't hold the view that human life is sacred and then say "women and children first." Well, I suppose one could hold that view, but they would be wrong.

smoothmoniker · 06-25-2009, 11:15 AM

To whom? "Worth" requires an indirect object, some entity to that is it worth to.

Are all lives worth the same to me? No, like glatt said, the importance of lives moves outward from my immediate family, to friends, then local community, world. I would always choose the death of 1,000 strangers over the death of my daughter or son.

Are all lives worth the same to society as law? Sometimes. The law tries to view every life as equal, and treats punishment and restitution accordingly.

Are all lives worth the same to society as economy? Clearly not. The life of each person has economic weight derived from many things, including ability, risk, returned value to society, and yes, luck.

Are all lives worth the same to society as social support (medicine, welfare, etc.)? Ah. This is the great political question of our time. I'll pass.

There's no good universal answer to this question - it's too broad. You have to give a context, "for whom".

lumberjim · 06-25-2009, 11:18 AM

are you saying that this kind of question can't possibly be answered seriously?

lumberjim · 06-25-2009, 11:19 AM

cuz that's kind of what I was saying

Flint · 06-25-2009, 12:08 PM

It might be easy to gauge the worth of yourself and your loved ones.

But to measure the value of stranger's life, you must put yourself in their place.

That sounds good, right?

Okay, now put yourself in the place of a permanently braindead person being kept alive by machines. As that person, how much would you be able to figure your own life is worth?

Okay, now put yourself in the place of a miserable, self-loathing, drug addict, whose every day actions inidcate that they have given up on life. As that person, how much would you be able to figure your own life is worth?

This isn't working!

Okay, now put yourself in the place of a basically decent person, who commits many good acts and kind deeds, but whose own low self-esteem won't let them see their true value to society. Maybe this person has a chemical imbalance and is suicidal. As that person, how much would you be able to figure your own life is worth?

This definitely isn't working.

This has to be determined by an indifferent outisde source in order to make any sense.

So, how much is a human life worth to an impartial observer... let's say one who has no stake in the affairs of humanity?

Is it more or less than the life of a grub worm? Is it more or less than the life of a tree?

From one extreme to the other, you're never going to like the answer to this question.

Queen of the Ryche · 06-25-2009, 01:50 PM

Mine's worth more than yours. End of discussion.

Shawnee123 · 06-25-2009, 01:56 PM

Mine's worth more than all y'alls.

Beestie · 06-25-2009, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

Mine's worth more than all y'alls.

Depends on who's buyin' and who's sellin'

Clodfobble · 06-25-2009, 02:05 PM

I can't find the direct quote, but monster once had a great line to the effect of, "All y'all can die in a fire if it means my baby has a 1 in 20 chance of being a little less hurt."

piercehawkeye45 · 06-25-2009, 03:26 PM

According to my dad my life is only worth $20. How much would your parent/spouse/sibling/children pay to get rid of you?

06-25-2009, 10:25 AM	#1
Master Cthulhu Sentimental Sentient Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 38	Is one human life worth more than another? I think this is one of the questions of life, and after a while of thought on the subject I cannot come up with a conclusion. What do you think?

06-25-2009, 11:02 AM	#3
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	The life(i assume you mean the continuation of) that has more left is worth more. An 11 year old is worth more than a 60 yr old. __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

06-25-2009, 11:09 AM	#4
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	What if the 11 year old was in a vegetative state or had an undetected disorder that would kill him in 10 years? And the 60 year old was, like, Einstein? __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

06-25-2009, 11:15 AM	#7
smoothmoniker to live and die in LA Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,090	To whom? "Worth" requires an indirect object, some entity to that is it worth to. Are all lives worth the same to me? No, like glatt said, the importance of lives moves outward from my immediate family, to friends, then local community, world. I would always choose the death of 1,000 strangers over the death of my daughter or son. Are all lives worth the same to society as law? Sometimes. The law tries to view every life as equal, and treats punishment and restitution accordingly. Are all lives worth the same to society as economy? Clearly not. The life of each person has economic weight derived from many things, including ability, risk, returned value to society, and yes, luck. Are all lives worth the same to society as social support (medicine, welfare, etc.)? Ah. This is the great political question of our time. I'll pass. There's no good universal answer to this question - it's too broad. You have to give a context, "for whom". __________________ to live and die in LA

06-25-2009, 11:18 AM	#8
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	are you saying that this kind of question can't possibly be answered seriously? __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

06-25-2009, 10:57 AM	#2
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	Yes. My life and the lives of my family and friends are worth more than the lives of complete strangers. Especially strangers who don't hold critical roles in society.

06-25-2009, 11:16 AM	#6
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	If you take the view that human life is sacred, that it is infinitely valuable, then all lives are equal. infinity time 60 years of life left equals infinity infinity times 1 year of life left equals infinity So you can't hold the view that human life is sacred and then say "women and children first." Well, I suppose one could hold that view, but they would be wrong.

06-25-2009, 11:19 AM	#9
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	cuz that's kind of what I was saying __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

06-25-2009, 12:08 PM	#10
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	It might be easy to gauge the worth of yourself and your loved ones. But to measure the value of stranger's life, you must put yourself in their place. That sounds good, right? Okay, now put yourself in the place of a permanently braindead person being kept alive by machines. As that person, how much would you be able to figure your own life is worth? Okay, now put yourself in the place of a miserable, self-loathing, drug addict, whose every day actions inidcate that they have given up on life. As that person, how much would you be able to figure your own life is worth? This isn't working! Okay, now put yourself in the place of a basically decent person, who commits many good acts and kind deeds, but whose own low self-esteem won't let them see their true value to society. Maybe this person has a chemical imbalance and is suicidal. As that person, how much would you be able to figure your own life is worth? This definitely isn't working. This has to be determined by an indifferent outisde source in order to make any sense. So, how much is a human life worth to an impartial observer... let's say one who has no stake in the affairs of humanity? Is it more or less than the life of a grub worm? Is it more or less than the life of a tree? From one extreme to the other, you're never going to like the answer to this question. __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

06-25-2009, 01:50 PM	#11
Queen of the Ryche is fleeing the scene Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Beautiful CO Posts: 1,510	Mine's worth more than yours. End of discussion. __________________ Once, in an interview, Chuck Norris admitted that he was not the most awesome thing ever. He declined to elaborate; but I believe we all know that he was referring to the existence of chocolate covered bacon. I'd rather be judged by twelve than carried by six.

06-25-2009, 01:56 PM	#12
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	Mine's worth more than all y'alls. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

06-25-2009, 02:05 PM	#14
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	I can't find the direct quote, but monster once had a great line to the effect of, "All y'all can die in a fire if it means my baby has a 1 in 20 chance of being a little less hurt." __________________ My book My other book My spirit animal

06-25-2009, 03:26 PM	#15
piercehawkeye45 Franklin Pierce Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,695	According to my dad my life is only worth $20. How much would your parent/spouse/sibling/children pay to get rid of you? __________________ I like my perspectives like I like my baseball caps: one size fits all.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode