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Worth of one life
Topic Started: May 13 2004, 11:24 AM (250 Views)
Wichita
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The Adminstrator wRench
I am suggesting this topic not to discuss whether or not "the one is more important than the many", but to ask if and how particlular cultures/countries view the worth of one life versus the many may affect their internal and external politics.

When I lived in Chile in the 1980's, I saw men who had been injured at work. In the US, they would have had Worker's Comp and, in a couple of case, a heck of a lawsuit possibility. There they were fired. In Chile, when it was still a dictatorship, an individual life was fairly unimportant.

Now, I look at the homicide bombers in Israel and wonder how many are truly committed to the cause and how many simply see this as an opportunity to earn more money for their families - through the payments made to the families of the bombers - than they could have earned in their lifetime otherwise. I can't see them valueing their own lives very much.

So what effect, if any, does the perception of the value of the life of one individual have on the internal and external politics of the group?
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doctortobe
Speak softly, and carry a 57 megaton stick!
It has an effect on the freedoms of the individuals and also on the peacefulness of that country. If the value of a human life is low, then the leaders are more likely to view people as mere resources like steel and lumber. The leaders will do as they please and the people will follow orders willingly. Much like Saddam's government.
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ds9074
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Admiral
In the west we claim to value all life highly although this is only partly true. I cant remember the exact words but I read this somewhere.

For a event to have a chance of making headline news it needs
1 tragic death of own countryman
10 tragic deaths of neigbouring countrymen
100 deaths of people from an non-regional but developed nation
1000+ deaths for developing countries

Sad but fairly true. We are greatly upset when 1 US civilian dies but then some people at least can come back with a suggestion that in response millions of Muslims should die.
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Minuet
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Fleet Admiral Assistant wRench, Chief Supper Officer
To Jews (and by extension, what should be to Christians) nothing is higher then the life of an individual. If it will save a life we can break all the rules and laws.

You mention the value of life to Palestinians. In contrast Israelis are willing to trade hundreds of prisoners in exchange for 1 or 2 individual, or even just thier bodies so they can be accorded a proper burial. This is a religious and cultural concept.

DS9074 it really is hard to do the right thing sometimes - but remember that those advocating the death of millions of Muslims are just very angry right now. They will settle down in a few days. Hell, if Israel took that attitude the mid east wouldn't exist anymore. But trust me - they feel this anger every day. No one is dropping the bomb tomorrow.
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Data's Cat's Sister
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Commodore
Wichita
May 13 2004, 11:24 AM
Now, I look at the homicide bombers in Israel and wonder how many are truly committed to the cause and how many simply see this as an opportunity to earn more money for their families - through the payments made to the families of the bombers - than they could have earned in their lifetime otherwise. I can't see them valueing their own lives very much.

I don't think it is about money at all. Also someone who is willing to blow themselves up probably isn't that mentally stable so it is possible that they don't value there own lives, in the way a person with depression might not.
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Adrian
Lieutenant Commander
I remember a couple of years ago(?) 60 Minites covered this story.
Thee is one (count him, one!) psychologist in the Palestinian Territories. His biggest concern was that dispondent teenagers would get that little push towards suicide by the what he called a "culture of martyrdom".
Their family gets paid (a big thing in poverty stricken territories). Television crews come up from the arab news networks and interview your family (a keeper from whatever group "sponsored" your suicide is nearby, saying what a hero you were). Your face gets painted in murals as a martyr, the neighborhood is proud of you. You go to heaven (or so the imans with you fanatical sponsor group tell you).
Now why wouldn't some depressed teen with little hope go for this?
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Dr. Noah
Sistertrek's Asian Correspondant
Seems pretty tempting, especially given the culture behind it and the destitution that most Palestinians have to live with day to day. I don't want to start an argument about whos right and wrong between the two groups, because that never goes anywhere. I just feel an ache in my heart whenever I think about Israel/West Bank situation.
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Swidden
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Adm. Gadfly-at-large; Provisional wRench-fly at large
There are as many different answers to this question as there are cultures. I remember from a Cultural Anthropology class, a few years ago now, where we discussed this in relation to parent/child relationship. In particular there was discussion of a circumstance in South America (I think it was Peru, but I am not sure). Due in part to the social influence of Christianity (esp. Catholic Church) when families grew too large to care for the youngest child/children might actually be intentionally allowed to be neglected to death (or in some cases infanticide). This was not widespread, but occurred enough to attract attention.

(Note to self- Dig out old texts and notes for further commentary)
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Dr. Noah
Sistertrek's Asian Correspondant
Too true, an unfortunate side effect of China's one child policy has lead to the exposure deaths of many infant girls. Chinese culture is still somewhat sexist, and boys are more likely to go to college and run the family business. Women are traditionally married off (this is beginning to change in urban life though).
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somerled
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Admiral MacDonald RN
What's a life worth ? Now that's a curly one.

In a narrow economic sense - what's your life insurance worth, superannuation death pay-out lump-sum, your limit for medical insurance worth in dollar or pound or frank or what have you ? Or what's YOUR the replacement value ?

How many people have to die at an intersection on a dangerous road or level crossing before it's worth the expense to install a round-about, traffic lights, a traffic light camera, or boom-gates and warning signals ?

Prisoner swaps - does that mean the value of a Palestinian life is worth considerably less than a Israeli Christian or Israeli Jewish life (to Israelis) ? Philosophical clarification required.
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Dwayne
Profanity deleted by Hoss
somerled
May 15 2004, 03:11 AM
What's a life worth

In the case of some people, only the mineral value one could extract from their dead body.
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Fesarius
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Admiral
Remember when Kirk asked Spock how much Star Fleet had invested in him? I think he began to say something like, "$117 thousand ...". Hmmm. ;)
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Minuet
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Fleet Admiral Assistant wRench, Chief Supper Officer
somerled
May 15 2004, 04:11 AM
Prisoner swaps - does that mean the value of a Palestinian life is worth considerably less than a Israeli Christian or Israeli Jewish life (to Israelis) ? Philosophical clarification required.

Oh please, there you go again. :frust:

I don't understand how you could get that meaning from what I said. Think about it. The prisoners held by the Israelis are ALIVE. Hundreds of them are released in exchange for a couple of soldiers, sometimes alive, sometimes dead soldiers. How in hell does that make Israeli lives more valuble? If the Israelis did not hold muslim lives in as high regard as thier own then there would only be dead body swaps.
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