The Nature and Value of Human Life

Nature

• Imago Dei = Image of God. We develop into his likeness (Iraneus)
• We have human dignity and we are set apart.
• We have dominion over animals on the earth
• Our nature is to reproduce - 'Be fruitful and multiply'.

Value

• Worth more than animals because we are made in the image of God

Nature

• Created by God, we were meant to be perfect but we are not completely perfect

Value

• We must be valuable because God is caring for us

Nature

• Work for what we want eg. food
• Women now suffer in childbirth
• 'To dust you shall return'.
• We are punished

Nature

• Story of Abraham and Isaac = we fear God
• Faith in God

Value

• He values them if they have faith and believe in him

Nature

• Our personality is a function of biological organism transacting in a social and cultural context.
• Ethical decisions are based on reason, empathy and concern.
• All knowledge comes from the senses.

Value

• Don't believe in a spiritual world
• Don't believe in evidence that life survive the death

Nature

• We naturally base morality on the principle of utility = The greatest good for the greatesr number
• Idea of relation is a fictitious entity by its necessary for convenience
• Natural Rights are nonsense

Value

• 'Self regarding interest is predominant over social interest'.
• Individual should be given equal consideration
• 'Every individual in the country counts for one, no more'.

Nature

• Rejects Bentham's view of humans being driven by self interest
• Desire for perfection and sympathy
• People themselves are capable of improvements

Value

• We have a desire of perfection. Sympathy towards other humans = we value other humans.

Nature

• Our aim is to reproduce and we are merely carriers of DNA
• We have no soul
• We should only believe in empirical things

Value

• We are valuable for passing on successful genes and ensuring the continuation of humanity
• No bigger purpose in life

Nature

• Humans are evolved animals and we aren't free = conditioned by external environment
• No interstate like soul or mind, but series of causes and effects governed by environment.

Value

• Because we are just causes and effects we are de-valued.

Nature

• Pain we feel is equal
• Capacity to experience and feel pain
• Capable of anticipating future and having wants and desires

Value

• Humans and animals are equal although humans have more to lose than animals
• We are more valuable as there would be greater sense of grief and distress at death
• Value depends on quality