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Debate Info

18
26
Yes No
Debate Score:44
Arguments:35
Total Votes:55
More Stats

Argument Ratio

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 Yes (15)
 
 No (17)

Debate Creator

FactMachine(430) pic



Does human life have inherent value?

Is it written in stone that human life has value or is "value" just another subjective brain contrivance?

Yes

Side Score: 18
VS.

No

Side Score: 26
1 point

Whether it is subjective or not, if we do not value human life then we are capable of crimes against humanity. Such an opinion must be rejected as being inherently sociopathic.

Side: Yes
FactMachine(430) Disputed
0 points

If that's the case then reality is sociopathic. A thing cannot have value, only a person or other entity can value a thing. Do you see how this works? It doesn't mean you have to not value human life, or that it's not "right" or reasonable to do so, it just means you have to admit that value is not a thing that has any objective basis.

Side: No
Eloy(190) Disputed
0 points

Some things do not need natural science to decide objectivity. Ethics, for example, does not come from natural science but from human science and it can be established as an objective reality in various aspects of life. All our answers do not come from natural science. Nor do all our questions.

Side: Yes
0 points

Yes, we as humans do have inherent value because we all are image bearers of God. That is why we have value.

Side: Yes
FactMachine(430) Disputed
0 points

God isn't real and if he was value would still be conceptual.

Side: No
Srom(12206) Disputed
1 point

If God isn't real then we have no worth, dignity, or value. We are simply just stardust, and bags of protoplasm. If we are stardust and protoplasm it doesn't really reflect anything with value.

Side: Yes
Grenache(6053) Clarified
1 point

You'll notice in my new post that the value has gone up dramatically.

Side: Yes
3 points

Does anything have inherent value?

Human life might have inherent value to itself, but I don't think this counts. The inherent value I think you are speaking of would require something being valuable without the need for someone to value it, which wouldn't be possible.

Side: No
2 points

Value and meaning are dependent on how something affects an individual or group. You can't say "how profound" or "I care deeply about this" without the proper circuitry because it is entirely subjective. Something cannot have value, even if it is a person, because value is something that only exists relative to a persons subjective needs and preferences. When you look at the sunset and think "how amazing" the sunset doesn't have any physical property that can be measured and verified, scientists don't look at the sun through a spectral telescope and say "yep, we've got a lot of amazingness emissions discharging today" because when you call something amazing or profound that is YOUR reaction to it. If an american found a 100 dollar bill on the ground, they would be very happy about that because it has value to their culture. If a person from north korea found it they might flush it down the toilet or report it to the authorities. So when you say something has value, you are projecting the fact that it has value to you or to society as if it is a physical reality, as if it is some inherent property of the thing itself. I say nothing has value, nothing has meaning, nothing is beautiful or ugly or anything else, other than it's exact composition and properties. We should understand this, but not use it to justify any anti human agenda, but instead use that understanding to help us decide whether certain people truly have value even on a subjective basis, such as banking elites and pedophiles, and use it as a justification to put them to death. Because human life doesn't have inherent value, in fact, many humans are the least valuable thing there is.

Side: No
Grugore(856) Disputed
2 points

My life has value to me and my loved ones. Doesn't matter what you or anyone else thinks. And who are you to say whose life has value or doesn't?

Side: Yes
FactMachine(430) Disputed
3 points

Who are you to say your life has value? It doesn't matter what you or anyone else thinks, it is not a thing that has value but a person who values a thing. Value doesn't exist except as a subjective notion, nothing actually has value, it can only be valued by someone, get it?

Side: No
1 point

NO. because all we have done to the earth is make it worse. let's count the many MANY ways. First, we are polluting the earth with green house gasses at a rate not seen on earth for millions of years. Second, We have made extinct THOUSANDS of species. Personally, I would sacrifice the human race for the other species. Including myself. Third, we have warred on ourselves. We think that these technological advances are great, but lets remember: The atomic bomb, thousands of poisons, thievery, suicide, slaves, rape. All we have done is make the world worse. The way I see it, the smarter and older the human race gets, the worse we are. I hope you agree with me.

Side: No
1 point

I think of it as analogous to energy. Human life has potential value and kinetic (actual, demonstrated) value.

This means that a human is only of value in the kinetic mode.

Those who contribute to the lives and wellbeing of others live lives with value. The value is not inherent, but created by effort and action.

Those who make the lives of others worse have a negative kinetic value. (e.g., Adolf Hitler or Jeffrey Dahmer) These are people who chose to act in ways that destroyed value others had.

Those people who contribute nothing to others have potential value (someday their lives MIGHT have value, IF they do something that contributes to others) but their lives CURRENTLY have no value (e.g., a fetus or a millennial who lives with his parents rent-free, does no chores, and stays in his room all day playing video games.)

A lottery ticket is a useful analog, also.

Lives with potential value, but no kinetic value are essentially lottery tickets before the drawing. They are worthless now, but someday might be incredibly valuable. This is why abortion is so foolish; it is the equivalent of tearing up a lottery ticket before finding out whether or not it is a winner.

Side: No