What is the value of human life?

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When it comes to life we, as human beings, have a unique perspective. We, to our knowledge, are the only self conceiving creature in the sense that we can think beyond our own physical need and reaction. We can actually think about ourselves, our past experiences, our future plans and our existence. How to put a value on this ability to conceive a higher thought? It would seem to be priceless. It does however have draw backs in being able to conceive sorrow and sadness so perhaps our value does not lie there.
Perhaps our existence has a certain value in the grand scheme of all things. Perhaps our human existence has or will improve the universe; indeed being the highest life-form on our planet and it being the only planet that we know of able to sustain life certainly puts us in a unique circumstance. A “one of a kind” usually has a value measurable only in the eye of the beholder. Then the definition of value has to be defined by who’s asking (a priceless unique vase or coin has little value to one who is starving, while a collector may pay millions and scoff at a dried out dinner roll and half-eaten salad.)
Then who is to define our value; Perhaps God? A unique creation with a mind of it’s own to conceive things that the creator had not conceived on his own and to have the free will to choose our own thoughts. Who can put a value on one’s child?
Perhaps we can put a value on ourselves! Some people put very little value on human lives (Think Hitler, think of the terrorism of our time and the hatred towards our fellow man.) Yet, can anyone put a value on an emotion, on watching a sunset or smelling the aroma of a much anticipated meal, the touch of another human, listening to a favorite song, the pride of succeeding?

There are so many things that we cannot fathom when it comes to our own existence, yet when taking into account those things that we can it would seem obvious that our life as humans is priceless!

Life is invaluable, you cannot put a price on it.

How much someone would pay to have you killed, that is your life value.

Some however, may argue that human life is priceless . I find it difficult to determine eather way.

More than everything, anything known to man (other than man itself). The value of human life is immeasurable and endless.

If there was a cosmic stock market that traded on 'value of human life' shares, these would probably be listed as junk bonds.

But seriously, there may not be an intrinsic value to human life or any other particular life for that matter ( just watch to the Animal, Discover or History Channels and you will understand what I mean) but we humans have a great advantage: we have IMAGINATION. Reality is just too unfair: poor people die for the wars that rich people start; honest and decent fathers can't pay for their children education while crooks send theirs to Harvard and Princeton; wealthy murderers never see jail while petty robbers and junkies get life sentences; our lives outcome depends pretty much on what environment we are born into... pure luck.

The good news is that we can dream a world where life is valuable and where every human being has a divine right to individuality, diginity and respect, freedom and all the other good stuff that we all yearn for. Without this imagination and our ability to put it in writing and inspire other human being to do the same, we will simply die. We will not be able to sustain vital social institutions and our order will degenerate into chaos lead by unbridled animal instincts. In my opinion, exalting, valuing and preserving life, all life, is more beneficial than not doing so. The 'return on investment' is much better.

Now, am I dogmatic about my views? absolutely not. Life is just too complex. Whatever your views about the value of human life, keep cool and go and invite your neighbors for dinner some time.

The key principle here is: Life evolves thru the interplay of positive and negative impulses, life and death, love and hate, war and peace, economic booms and busts, and so on and so forth. However, life really evolves when positive impulses win over negative ones because the universe can only build in the positive direction.

Another good principle: life evolves by excess but survives by balance.

Only God knows for sure.

Of course, if you don't believe in God than I'd say the value of your life is entirely a function of what you're doing for me. (wink, wink)

My perspective on that is much different now than it was say 20 years ago. Back then, I saw a great deal of value in having a career, a home, a car, and 2.5 kids. And, I knew if you were good, you would go to heaven and if you were bad, you would go to hell. Once the fear of that wore off, the value shifted to what we learn or don't learn when we're here. Of course, there's a lot more to it, but that would take volumes.

Nothing in the universe can tell, correctly the value of life, it actually worth nothing as we can only feel desperate once difficult to regain the lost soul.

Human Life is like a motion picture that for sure must come to an end at a particular point in time, if however, death could stand for life it can worth as much as impossible to imagine.

No one can ever keep the soul happy with the sound of death. More or less the value of anything rises proportionally to its current and more expected demand.

Regards;
Kassanga

Organ transplantation is big business.. just ask China ;)

it depends on how much you pack into it! my life is priceless! i hope yours is too!

depends on supply and demand?
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depends on whose life, and who's paying?

Human life is priceless.(my opinion) :)

In Colombia, you can hire a hitman for less than $50USD.

The value we give it. We decide. Each person. Each society. For some people life is cheap. For others, it's expensive.

Not much, it appears

pretty valuable.
In this lifetime we can have so many experiences,
learn so many things,
experience Love
find God
and very important a good place to work off karma.

The value depends on the opinion people have on that life. It can be worth everything, to nothing. For lives that are especially burdensome someone's death could be more valuble than thier life.

During the next 80 years more people will die than have ever existed on earth.... And nothing especially horrifying has to happen to achieve that.