does human life have intrinsic value?

Question

do all individuals have/need the same rights to life?

Answer 1

Yes, all humans have intrinsic value. Value that by our very nature it belongs to us. However, I will further say that even though we are valuable we can loose value due to our actions. Things like murder cause individuals to loose equality with others.
I do see though how this begs the question, can we gain value based on our actions? Mother Theresa and all her works? What about the murderer who feels mortified and guilty by his actions and spends the rest of his life doing good for the sake of others?
So, I believe that our value is intrinsic but the level of equality can vary.

Answer 2

This is a big ongoing debate in philosophy dating back from the times of the ancient Greek. Many people think that human beings are capable of innate thoughts, that the thoughts of goodness and virtue are intrinsic and essential to us, and that the source of goodness is not outside human mind or soul. If we believe in this intrinsic concept of human nature than we can be assured that human life has its own intrinsic value, and that human nature is essentially good. Upon this being considered as the chief difference between the general nature and human nature, we can say that human beings are capable of doing deeds of goodness upon will, and not merely in response to external incentives, or due to motives the sources of which are not intrinsically human.

Answer 3

I think you're referring to Jonathan Glover's argument that human life has no intrinsic value, right? That argument proceeds as follows:

Does human life have intrinsic value? Let's break down the question into 2 parts: (1) does being human have intrinsic value, and (2) does life have intrinsic value?

To question 1: if it doesn't matter to you whether you are a cat in a permanent (deep and irreversible) coma or a human in a permanent coma, then that suggests that there's nothing intrinsically valuable about being human; otherwise, you'd prefer to be a human in a permanent coma. (It doesn't matter what you are, if you're in a permanent coma - you still feel/experience nothing.)

To question 2: if it doesn't matter to you whether you are a human in a permanent coma or a human who's dead, then that suggests there's nothing intrinsically valuable about being alive; otherwise, you'd prefer to be in a permanent coma.

Recombining the question, the conclusion Glover draws is that there's nothing intrinsically valuable about human life (as opposed to non-human life or death).

Of course, this argument doesn't work against those who believe souls exist and are what's intrinsically valuable. Though it seems to me that a soul that was free to be in heaven (or whatever you believe) is better than a soul permanently trapped in a useless body...

Answer 4

To be quite honest with you, NO! This is because if you look at how we measure worth, we look at extrinsic facors like output e.g. how much money you have, your status in society, your family etc.....this suggests to me that man's value is not in his inherent goodness but in his output......our society has been forged in violence, both agst each other and the planet, why would we still hold on the idea that man is inherently good when they is alot of evidence to the contrary. We are only ever "good" when there is a benefit to our action. Even look at charitable giving as an inherently "good" activity...we do it because it is tax deductible, we can use this as yet antoher way to show extrinsic value, we want to keep up with the jonses etc.

So human life has really no intrinsic value and its worth can only ever be measured in extrinsic facotrs like nature & level output. Thousands of people die every year, all over the world, but yet, the only ones we hold up are those whom we deem to ahve made a contribution to society, for better or for worse....I never hear breaking news stories about the bum who works the corner keeling over from a heart attack but let a celebrity (or someother rich/powerful person) drop dead and we stop in our tracks....

Answer 5

In the same way that any life has intrinsic value - because of the beauty of our individual existence. Beyond that, the creative and intelligent capability of humans, our abilities and accomplishments and prospects, make me also think that we have some intrinsic value beyond aesthetics.

Answer 6

All life has intrinsic value in that all life serves a function. However, few humans have individual value. Their value is delineated by the other lives that they effect.

Answer 7

Perhaps......nothing has value in and of itself. Nothing is 'born' with a specific value to anything else. Is the Sun more valuable than a small stone? But value can be 'given' or 'granted' from one to another simply by choice. Your value, for example, can be granted to you; by you, but would only be real to you in and of itself. It can be, and will be, 'adopted' by others and you will see your idea about your own personal value to yourself spread like a wild fire. So choose carefully how you value yourself for others will follow your lead.

Answer 8

Not all individuals have the same rights, but we do need them.

Answer 9

No.

Sure we all have the same rights, which is none. We are animals with slightly bigger brains, that's it.

If the asteroid hadn't hit 65 million years ago, we wouldn't be here. Think about the ramifications of that.

Answer 10

Only what we give it.

Biologically speaking if you brake down the human body into its chemical elements then total them up you would have £1.09 but if you sold one of your kidneys you could get a shed load of cash.

Can human sentience be given a price tag? Ans. NO!!