Question Members of the Abrahamic faiths believe that we are all children of God and all equal in the eye of God. Therefore our lives are sacred and have an inherent equality of value that is beyond price. However, if God does not exist then a human life cannot be sacred. In this context can its value be beyond price? And if not, upon what basis should its value be calculated? It appears to me that if a human life has no inherent value then its only value is its social value, which for most purposes is its market value. But in that case there are categories of person whose lives cost more to society at large than they personally contribute, so that their social value is negative. And so logically it would appear on grounds of economy and social utility, and upon Darwinian principles of survival of the fittest, that such lives should be eliminated. Upon what rational grounds could one dispute this?

Accepted:

August 22, 2009