Essay: The Value of Life, Law's Role, and Individual Decisions

This essay delves into the complex question of whether the value of a human life should be determined by law or by the individual. It explores the economic aspects of valuing life, including concepts like the cost of life and the value of preventing fatalities. The essay examines the interplay between individual choices, accountability, and the role of law in shaping decisions. It presents arguments both for and against the intervention of law in individual lives, focusing on freedom, personal responsibility, and the potential for both positive and negative outcomes. The analysis considers the importance of individual goals, societal impact, and the need for a balanced approach where legal provisions and individual choices complement each other. Ultimately, the essay argues for a nuanced perspective, where individual freedom is balanced with legal frameworks to promote a fulfilling and responsible life. References to academic sources support the arguments presented.

VALUE
OF
LIFE

Table of Contents
ESSAY.............................................................................................................................................3
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

ESSAY
“Should the Value of Life be decided by law or the individual? Discuss.”
INTRODUCTION
The value of a human life is the quantifiable economic value which one gets from
avoiding a casualty or mortality. It is also known as the cost of life, implied cost of averting a
fatality (ICAF) and value of preventing a fatality (VPF). It is a vital element which is included in
economics, health care, adoption, political economy, insurance and so on. It greatly depends on
the way a person live his life and work. A person is happy and feels his life has a worth when his
desires are fulfilled (Doucouliagos and et. al., 2012). This report will throw lights on the value of
life, the perception of an individual towards his life and the aspects which are important for
calculating the life. Further, it will include, how the intervention of law in the individual life
change the way human calculate his value of life.
MAIN BODY
Thesis statement: “Does law have meaning in value of life or should it be accepted by
an individual?”
Idea: Accountability
Paragraph (Agree)
A life of an individual is all about the choices and decisions he make. The individual
make many decisions on the fact that he will be solely responsible for the decisions he has made
i.e. only an individual will be held accountable for the outcomes of his own decisions and
choices. A person makes his plans, strategies, set his objectives which he wants to achieve in his
life, sacrifice for his family to make them happy, go to work and earn for fulfilling the basic
needs as well as luxurious desires etc. All these are done by an individual for achieving the
happiness and to lead a peaceful life (Bardi and et. al., 2014). But there may arise certain
circumstances, where the individual can go wrong on making his decisions and which will yield
negative results. The life of an individual is affected to the core when he suffers a loss or suffers
a mishap by his own decisions. In such events, the individual feels the importance of law. He
then, regret of not obeying the law while making the decisions. Law in any country is formed to
allow the citizens to live in a society that treats everyone equal and provide justice to the one
doing wrongful acts. Before reaching to a conclusion of an action, one must consider the

consequences of law for their wrong-doing acts. The law is a system that provides a clear base to
carry life peacefully. Further, when a choice or decision is taken according to the law, the
decision automatically becomes legal. Legal decisions are trusted by everyone and no individual
will held accountable for the results of legal decisions. Accountability is an important feature in
everybody's life (Sortheix and Lönnqvist, 2014). One must accept his responsibility for his
wrong actions. However, it has been seen that, a person try to avoid taking accountability for the
wrong acts or decisions. In such case, law will make the person liable for his acts and
compensate to the other person who has suffered any sort of loss or injuries. The law will punish
the wrongdoers so ultimately the law will be responsible for every outcome of a person's
decisions. Law give a common basis for evaluating the value of life and choices made to make it
worth. Hence, law should rule the life of people so that they take decisions on the basis of
various provisions of law. A person will not make any wrong decision if taken by complying
with the law.
Paragraph (Disagree)
A person feel happy and responsible when he makes a decision and bears the results of
such decision all by himself. It is a human tendency of not involving a third party or not to
consider the opinions of any third party even if it is law. Decisions are based on the individual
choices and the choices vary person to person. The criteria for forming decisions is based on
one's perception and the perception is different for each individual. Two person can not be held
liable or accountable for each other's individual decisions or choices. Every person is unique,
therefore requires no interference of law in his life. Hence, it is obvious that each person may
have different opinions and this difference creates problems between the individual as everybody
wants to put their thought first. This makes a person think that, he is superior than the rest and he
whatever he does or is going to do is/will be correct. When people abide by the law, they feel
bound by the limitations that are put by the provisions of law (Skidelsky and Skidelsky, 2012). A
person can feel complete happiness and satisfied only when things are done according to his
wish and orders. He is happy even when he is accountable for the decisions that has given him
the wrong outcomes. On the other hand, law does not let a person make his decision as per his
choices. It does not give freedom to carry the life in a way in which one wants to leads. When
legal provisions are imposed on someone, he has to comply those provisions and act accordingly
within the legal boundaries. Such restrictions make a person feel bounded which in turn make

him unhappy as he will not have the freedom to make choices and decisions according to his
own wish. Therefore, law should not accepted.
Thesis statement: “should an individual assign value to and solve the disputed
questions of life his life instead of law?”
Idea: Freedom
Paragraph (Agree):
Freedom is what every person wish for. A person feel happy when he is given freedom to
choose the way he wants to lead his life. Everyone want a country which provides democracy to
its citizens. A person select and choose his personal values to be incorporated in life while doing
day-to-day routine work (Shove and et. al., 2012). These values are formed according to his
personal choices. The right to choose what to do and what not to do should be decided by the
person himself as he has the best knowledge about his life and the aspects that are related to his
life. When no restrictions are put on a person, he acts in a positive way. If a society gives ample
amount of freedom, then the individual feel a sense of belongingness. This sense makes him do
things not only for his family but also for the society and the overall results of his activities is
that the person is liked and respected by everyone. A person calculate how worthy is his life by
the achievements. Further, the goals are primary in everyone's life. It could be anything from
buying a house, choosing an organization to work in, buying things for his family especially
children, earning money, spending the earned money in the way he likes, going on trips,
participating in social activities and so on. When a person fulfils his goals, he becomes satisfied
and happy. But he will be satisfied only when he has given freedom to fulfil his goals. Whereas,
law is made to be applicable on the people to prevent them from doing as per their wish, this
means that there will not be absolute freedom.. Law may not give complete freedom but
whatever the level of limitations are there, a person will feel that no freedom is given to him.
When an individual fails to exercise his control in his way, or restricted by law, then he will feel
dissatisfied and happy (Blau, 2017). Further, law will want him to do those things as well which
he never thought of doing, this will create disturbance in his personal life because of non-
availability of freedom. An individual has a complete right to choose what should be done and
what not. Also, he should also resolve the matters of controversies in his own way. When the
disputes of the life are solved by the individual himself, he will value his life even more.

Therefore, the law should not be there to decide the value of life of a person as person is capable
of leading a peaceful life in his own way.
Paragraph (Disagree)
Freedom should be there in every aspects of life as without this, life will be boring and
one will feel restricted which in turn will make the person lose his interest in life (Freudendal-
Pedersen, 2016). Losing interest in life reduces its value. Freedom should be utilised to make life
more worthy so that one may feel the importance of his purpose in life. If a person if left to
decide the amount of freedom he needs in his life, then there will no common quantity of
freedom for all the people in the society. For a successful and worthy life, there should be a same
level of freedom so that no question of disputes or conflict arise between the persons living in the
same society. If the individual is given absolute freedom, without putting any restrictions or
limitations, then this can create chaos as everybody will do according to their wish. If absolute
freedom is given to the individuals, then the situation can get worse, such one may hit another, or
even kill each other, there will be increase in domestic violence, rape, murders, theft, acid attacks
etc. The list is long and more and more cases will be added to this list, if people are left free to
decide on every action. However, all these circumstances will be under controlled if law is
involved in the lives of everyone. Law serves a common basis for deciding on every case that a
person has encountered. A person can enjoy his life by abiding the law. It is not true that, law
takes away the freedom (Habermas, 2015). In fact, law gives freedom to do everything but
within the limits of legal provisions so that no one cross the limits and perform acts that could
damage or destroy other person's life. In case of wrongful acts, one may seek justice in the legal
system of the country. This is not possible in case, when absolute freedom is given to
individuals. Moreover, law treats everyone equal, so the freedom is also equal for everyone
otherwise rich people will misuse their power to get benefits by exploiting others and poor
people will only suffer and not able to do anything about being exploited. Hence, individual
should be given freedom but law should be involved so that no one misuse the freedom in a
manner that may hurt others. To create a balance between how much freedom should be used by
a person is to be decided by the law so law is must for everyone.
CONCLUSION
With the above report, it has been concluded that, the value of a human life is based on
the purposes of his life. A person should work towards increasing the value of his life and

measure the value so that his interest in the life is not lost. Further, the value of created by
fulfilling the individual goals as well as goals of the family. Along with this, an individual should
not only focus on his family but also on the society to be recognized by the people living in the
society. Along with this, there should be a proper balance of imposition of legal provisions and
individual choices. It should be applied in a way that both of these aspects does not get diluted
into each other. Along with this, freedom should be there to make a person happy also the right
person should be made accountable for his individual decisions.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Doucouliagos, C., Stanley, T.D. and Giles, M., 2012. Are estimates of the value of a statistical
life exaggerated?. Journal of health economics. 31(1). pp.197-206.
Bardi, A., Buchanan, K.E., Goodwin, R., Slabu, L. and Robinson, M., 2014. Value stability and
change during self-chosen life transitions: Self-selection versus socialization
effects. Journal of personality and social psychology. 106(1). p.131.
Sortheix, F.M. and Lönnqvist, J.E., 2014. Personal value priorities and life satisfaction in
Europe: The moderating role of socioeconomic development. Journal of Cross-Cultural
Psychology. 45(2). pp.282-299.
Skidelsky, E. and Skidelsky, R., 2012. How much is enough?: money and the good life. Penguin
UK.
Shove, E., Pantzar, M. and Watson, M., 2012. The dynamics of social practice: Everyday life
and how it changes. Sage.
Freudendal-Pedersen, M., 2016. Mobility in daily life: between freedom and unfreedom.
Routledge.
Blau, P., 2017. Exchange and power in social life. Routledge.
Habermas, J., 2015. Between facts and norms: Contributions to a discourse theory of law and
democracy. John Wiley & Sons.
Online
Value of life. 2017. [Online]. Available through: <https://www.esv.org/resources/esv-global-
study-bible/the-value-and-dignity-of-human-life/>