Is Hitler's life as worthy of protection as is Mother Teresa's? Is the the leader of a country's life worth more than the security detail assigned to take a bullet for him/her? Is the life of a baby equal to that of its mother? If possible, what standard would you use to rank the value of one's life?
2006-10-11 05:09:21 · 11 answers · asked by Sesquipedalian 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
At the core, all lives have the same potential value; but due to people's choices, some lives lose value and meaning.
That is, intrinsically, all lives have the same value; but in reality all lives do not achieve their full worth. Intrinsic value is un-achieved because it is given. Extrinsic value is achieved by the process of living...
2006-10-11 05:20:11 · answer #1 · answered by bassbredrin 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
When God said the he would that none shall perish, He practically said everyone is valued as equal to him. The separation comes in our mind based off the decisions said people make... Like Hitler. His decisions to do what he did go against many things of God. However God still wished he should not perish. Look at the Apostle Paul who was Saul. he was pretty much a Hitler of that time to Christians but yet Jesus turned things around. Paul then became a head of Christianity. You ask some really tough questions for us today. But we must learn to look at things from God's point of view. We may not like the things some people decide or how some things turn out such as the mother and child question.... Because God's standards are not kept in today's lives of people things like this take place. You must remember that our basic moral character that determines what is good versus bad and what is worse than another and who is worth more than another come from God. Even though the decisions are tough when it comes to choosing between one life and another... God's love should decide. Not our feelings on the matter. I would that none shall perish also, however I know that if a person is making wrong choices in their life then the decisions are not up to me but God. Such as mother and child. I would mother live because there will always be a chance for another child... as harsh as that sounds.... But look at it this way. The child is innocent and will be received by God with open arms for us to see later when we get to heaven. Then Parents still would be able to make decisions to determine if they will go to Heaven or not... And have a chance to have another child. Together!
2006-10-11 12:44:53 · answer #2 · answered by proverb31us 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To me, something that is of value is so because of its ability to improve a situation.
Potential value in humans begins at conception and is dependent upon the value of the parents that conceive the child. A baby with good parents has the highest potential value possible. The decisions that child makes either increases their value to the world, leaves it in the same place, or decreases it. Over time, the more good decisions someone makes, the more valuable to humanity they become, and the worse decisions they make, the less valuable to humanity they become. The decisions of other people also influence our value. If a valuable person is not valued by those around them, although they are valuable, their value is none because of the lack of value in the people around them. There is much that can be said about this topic, but I will stop here.
2006-10-11 12:39:10 · answer #3 · answered by deep bass 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good question.
At the very basest level, yes...all human life is worth the same.
I think what makes one or another more 'valuable' is their output. Their perceived accomplishments and the loss that would be felt if they ceased to exist. It's kinda like the saying, "to the world I am nothing, but to someone, I am the world."
If there was a standard to ranking someone's value, maybe you could devise a point system for their contributions to the people around them, and the world at large. Perhaps you compute a ratio for money earned to resources used to determine if they are a drain or contributor.
2006-10-11 12:33:03 · answer #4 · answered by vicvic* 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All lives are worth the same. Even if we don't like it. We're not God to judge whose life is worth more and whose life is worth less. The bodyguard's life is worth just as much, but he chooses to put it on the line for whoever he's guarding. And even though most would argue, yes Hitler's life is worth just as much as Mother Teresa. However, that's the ideal. If i was in a position where I could only save one and I had to choose, then it's no contest. But that's a separate matter. That's reaping what you sow. I wouldn't be the direct cause of Hitler's death (cause I would save him if I could, I don't want a man's death on my conscience if he wasn't threatening me at the time) but his actions were the direct stimulus for my decision.
2006-10-11 12:36:10 · answer #5 · answered by Bri Liz 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately, it depends on how the situation is. To be completely objective, all lives are equal (think of a total perspective vortex that you could climb into). However, as you have demonstrated, circumstances can alter our opinions. I would say then, that in a situation where you are not personally involved, all lives are worth the same, but when it concerns you, you would need to decide if your one child is really worth sacrificing the lives of a dozen other people.
2006-10-11 12:26:35 · answer #6 · answered by boo! 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
all lives have the same value in essence society places more value on some
2006-10-11 12:16:03 · answer #7 · answered by nora7142@verizon.net 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes all equal to about 75 cents.
2006-10-11 12:11:26 · answer #8 · answered by Cary Grant 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Look beyond common sense because common sense is created by man. Look rather into what you believe rather than what everyone else thinks.
2006-10-11 12:13:54 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
mother hteresa didnot lead the haulocast so yes if body guards werre as"valuable" they would have boddy guarsd too and baby always comes first
2006-10-11 12:19:59 · answer #10 · answered by hailey n 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋