Poll: The Value of a Human Life

[thestickman91]

A few years ago I got into a small argument with a Spanish teacher in the middle of class. The disagreement stemmed from the statement "I love my dog, but if I was put in the position of having to save him or a person, I would save the person." (The scenario being a human and an animal both somehow hanging from a cliff) I felt this was a perfectly reasonable statement. The teacher disagreed. She rebutted with "What if that person was a pedophile or a murderer?" Now I thought that was kind of an extreme response, but fair enough. Challenging me to an extreme I stated that I felt no right to end another human life because that would make me no better than a murderer. The teacher moved on with the class after that to talk about nachos or some shit leaving me to feel that I had won a hollow victory. So Escapists, who do you think was right in this?

TL;DR:
Am I wrong to think that a human life is something I don't have a right to end? Or was my teacher right in thinking that letting someone die is justifiable?

EDIT: I think I should clarify that I am not a religious man. I believe that everyone only gets one life. I also believe that there are more appropriate punishments than death for violent criminals.

 

[madwarper]

There is no right or wrong answer to a "What would you do" scenario.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

A cliff?

What kind of scenario is that?

You need something more realistic, like a drowning, involving whirlpools and a number of very specific individuals.

 

[SlaveNumber23]

If its between a complete stranger and my dog, I'm saving my dog. There are many people who aren't complete strangers to me that I wouldn't save over my dog as well. You aren't right or wrong it comes down to personal preference, there is no correct answer.

 

[Blood Brain Barrier]

I can't answer such a general question. In a real situation it's not between "a human life" and "an animal life", it's between something I care about (my pet) and someone I care about more or less than my pet. Therefore the answer would depend on my amount of care and not any isolated reasoning based on generalities.

 

[Vault101]

A cliff?

What kind of scenario is that?

You need something more realistic, like a drowning, involving whirlpools and a number of very specific individuals.

if Daystar and Vault101 were drowning...and there was a dog and a paedophile in the way...

close?

 

[Alternative]

if Daystar and Vault101 were drowning...which one would you save, the dog or the paedophile?

Fixed it for you.

I kid of course, Daystar is only a Alledged paedophile.

OT: I would save the human. Unless the person is a convicted serial killer or other particularly terrible person.

 

[Luftwaffles]

If i dont save the dog, whos gonna lure catch the rats and possums?

 

[Joccaren]

It really depends on the situation, and there is no right or wrong answer in this case.

Equating leaving the person to die to murder is like equating leaving the animal to die to animal torture and butchery - it doesn't really work.

IMO a human life holds no extra value over an animal life. Both are irreplaceable and individual, and both likely have those that care about them. Dependent on the conditions and context of the situation would depend on who I would save, though as a general rule I'd sacrifice myself and try to save both instead.

 

[Aris Khandr]

Random person vs. random animal? Person. Random person vs. *my* animal? Animal.

Hell, I'd save a stuffed animal before a stranger, so long as the stuffed animal was mine. Because I love them, and they love me back. And I'll take all I can get of that these days.

 

[CrazyCapnMorgan]

Random person vs. random animal? Person. Random person vs. *my* animal? Animal.

Hell, I'd save a stuffed animal before a stranger, so long as the stuffed animal was mine. Because I love them, and they love me back. And I'll take all I can get of that these days.

A-freakin'-men to that. My stuffed Kirby gets lotsa hugs, and he gives good hugs in return. Some people think I'm weird thinking that a stuffed Kirby is better than people.

Those people quickly become bereft of my companionship, friendship and wit.

A cliff?

What kind of scenario is that?

You need something more realistic, like a drowning, involving whirlpools and a number of very specific individuals.

if Daystar and Vault101 were drowning...and there was a dog and a paedophile in the way...

If such were the case, I'd run the pedo over with my spiked, flaming bulldozer of death, rescue the dog, and then launch two rescue ropes from the back of said bulldozer to rescue both Daystar and Vault101.

However, Amaterasu's theme from MvC3 would be playing as soon as I ran the pedo over.

 

[Zack Alklazaris]

A cliff?

What kind of scenario is that?

You need something more realistic, like a drowning, involving whirlpools and a number of very specific individuals.

DO NOT start the "Drowning in a pool" shit again. :S

---------------

I would go by what would be acceptable socially and save the human. Regardless of their evils people tend to look down on others who choose an animal life over a humans... at least you'd think they'd do.

 

[Overusedname]

A cliff?

What kind of scenario is that?

You need something more realistic, like a drowning, involving whirlpools and a number of very specific individuals.

Thanks for pointing out the problem~

We've had this discussion, bro. It ended badly.

I will say this: Do you have the right to end an animal's life? Everything is relative. A dog dying can effect a lot of people's lives, and hurt them. And don't forget that animals often love, mourn, and feel sorrow when faced with death. My dog took quite a while to be happy again once my older dog was put to sleep. They loved each other very very much, and they make my family and friends lives a lot better and happier. Animals have plenty of value.

This is not a 'right or wrong' situation. I don't believe in elevating people to super status like we're more important than everything by virtue of our biology. Something precious and irreplaceable is going to be lost. If you save one or both, kudos.

 

[StrixMaxima]

A teacher that proposes such conundrum is either cluelessly bored or in search for a new career.

 

[Xariat]

This would really depend on what person and what animal it was I had to chose from.

random person v random animal = I'd save the person

other than that I can't really answer, would depend on a lot of unpredictable or unstated factors.

 

[Loonyyy]

You're not ending a life. No matter what you do, it's a net positive. The result of doing nothing is both die.

Whichever positive you value more is up to you. I personally value my pet over most random people. I value my family over most random people too. We had this thread a while ago, and no satisfying logical argument could be given to justify anthopocentricism (Which is probably because it's a load of bunk). If you value the life of a stranger over your dog, that's fine too. It's a position I'd have trouble coming to or agreeing with, but that's fine. It's a stated value, and those vary from person to person.

Do what you want. A random person could be good or bad, and my judgement isn't based on that. No matter how good or bad they may be, a stranger is worth less to me than my dog.

 

[Monsterfurby]

A human life your be more valuable to you than any other kind of life.

Why?

Self-interest. Basically, you should act the way you would want others to act towards you. That includes preferring human life to other forms, basically because you ARE human, not anything else (I guess).

Then again, of course, I reserve the right to not pull up the human if I felt that I/the world would be better off without them, in which case I might as well use the time to save the basically blameless animal.

 

[The Last Nomad]

I would save the human, but only if it wasn't a great risk to myself, because I value my life greatly and 2 deaths is far worse than one (not including the stupid dog).

 

[CpT_x_Killsteal]

In most cases the human.

However if the human was say... A violent pedophile or corrupt CEO of a large corporation (Koch Brothers etc,) then I'd let them fall and save the dog.

So if I felt that the world would be far better off without them or that it was their "just desserts" then I'd save the dog. Otherwise I'd save the person.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

People are always more important than animals. Always.