Should the Value of Life Be Decided by Law or the Individual? Essay

This essay delves into the multifaceted question of how the value of life should be determined, contrasting the roles of law and individual perspectives. It examines the concept of value of life, the importance of human life, and the impact of legal frameworks on individual rights and ethical considerations. The essay argues that determining value of life by law promotes equality and security, while individual decisions can be biased. The report considers the role of government in shaping human rights and the impact of law in creating a sense of responsibility among humans, using examples from the UK legal system. The essay explores the importance of right to life, right to liberty and security, and the significance of human rights act for the protection of human life. The essay concludes that deciding value of life by law will be considered right in comparison to individual as it promotes equality and security among general public. The report also provides insights into the drawbacks of individual-based decisions and the importance of considering previous cases before passing judgements.

VALUE OF LIFE

Table of Contents
ESSAY.............................................................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Paragraph 1 (Agree).....................................................................................................................1
Paragraph 2 (Disagree)................................................................................................................2
Paragraph 3 (Agree).....................................................................................................................2
Paragraph 4 (Disagree)................................................................................................................3
Paragraph 5 (Agree).....................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

ESSAY
“Should the Value of life be decided by law or the individual? Discuss.”
INTRODUCTION
Value of life is an economic value used to quantify the benefit of avoiding a loss. It also
referred to as cost of life, value of preventing a fatality. Value denotes the degree of importance
of some thing or action that reflects a person's sense of right or wrong. Understanding and
interpreting the value of human life has troubled ethicists, philosophers and lawyers since the
dawn of time. The extent to which life should be regarded as intrinsically valuable is the most
challenging and important legal question. Understanding value of life helps to live authentic and
happy. In this project details regarding how an individual value a life and criteria on which law
decides value of life will be discussed. This report also provides clarification about to whom
authority is provided to decide about value of life (Doucouliagos, Stanley and Giles, 2012).
MAIN BODY
Thesis statement: “ Is value of life decided by law creates equality among humans or leads to
a dissatisfied life of an individual”
Idea: Democraticness
Paragraph 1 (Agree)
Every person across the globe one of the most important issue in the society and that is
inequality. Inequality can be on the basis of gender, colour, financial condition, cast, religion. A
democratic country do not support inequality and take every possible step to make all the
individuals in the country equal. Determining value of life by law brings equality in democracy
of the country. As law considers each individual equal and value of life of a person will be same
as those of others. Individual is emotional and have various emotions that makes it difficult to
provided a clear judgement. A set of rules and regulations are provided by law that are same of
each person in the country (Appadurai, 2012). Government of a country supports law and helps
in establishing a democracy in which all humans are treated equally. A democracy the posses
focus to bring equality in nation will helps to increase moral value of individual that helps in
understanding value of life. In eyes of law when each individual is equal then rewards and
punishments will be same for particular activity. When value of life for each individual will be
considered same then criminals will be punished for their sins in fair manner, so that justice can
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be provided to the injured person. All the citizen of the country will have faith in law as fair
judgement will be provided to each individual, considering that each individual have equal right
to get justice.
Paragraph 2 (Disagree)
value of life to each individual is different as this belongs on their motives, goals and
objects which they wants to achieve in life. A individual who born in a society in which
education, respect and money is considered as most important part of life. This will shift focus of
an individual only to have good education and live a respectful life (Experts in Chronic Myeloid
Leukemia, 2013). On the other hand child who is orphan by birth and commits crime to survive
to not consider that value of life is equal for all. Democracy of a country consider each individual
a culprit those who commits crime. Circumstances in which crime is performed are secondary
and punishments are provided to criminals. When value of life is decided by law then it leads to
dissatisfaction to individual. Various activities that a individual perform and which are right from
individual perception but not as per law then dissatisfaction gets generated. It is also considered
that here value of life does not means only to individuals but to all the living beings. Value of life
of a animal is not same as value of individual as testing of a new drug is always done on an
animal or bird but not on individual. This creates inequality and also individual are not allowed
to live as per their wish.
Thesis statement: “Does laws determined by government for standard human rights helps in
creating value of life”
Idea: Decisions
Paragraph 3 (Agree)
Government of UK determines various laws that helps focuses on human rights. Human
rights act is considered as an act that helps to protect all human whether young or old, rich or
poor. Decision of a judge in court of law is based on the laws in human rights act (Doucouliagos,
Stanley and Viscusi, 2014). Violation of human rights will be unlawful. As per human rights act
right to life helps in protection of life of an individual. When a suspicious death and death in
custody then then investigation must be required. Inhuman treatment or torture to innocent is not
allowed as per law. Human rights also provides protection against slavery and forced labour.
Right to freedom and liberty and no punishment without law makes a person innocent until
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guilty is proven. Right of privacy and family life and right to marry protects an individual from
unnecessary surveillance or intrusion into personal life. Freedom of thought and freedom of
speech and no discrimination provides basis for decision making. When decision of individual is
considered regarding any issue related to personal rights then it can be seen that it is highly
influenced by laws that are formed by government. When a thought to commit something which
is no legal as per law takes place in human mind then ultimate decision will be affected by
provisions and punishments provided by law. Decisions of various cases in court considers that
law framed by government if followed or not. Disrespect of any law leads decision against the
individual who did not follow law. Law in a country helps in understanding importance of
human life and also adds value to life of an individual (Hultkrantz and Svensson, 2012).
Paragraph 4 (Disagree)
Laws in a country determines how whole economy of a county should be governed to run
a country ethically. Laws that are framed by government for well being of human life sometimes
dominates standard principals related to value of life. When law is framed by government of
country then government tries at its best to resolve every issue that general public faces. All the
issues are not addressed in law and ignorance of small issue reduces value of life. When law is
framed it become rigid for each individual and can not be modified according to various
situations. A rigid legal system leads to complex laws and when laws are not modified according
to changing environment then reliance on laws for decision making leads to outdated decisions
that do no fulfil current requirements. Serious punishment for violation of law that do not harm
any individual will be considered inhuman and also leads in reduction of value of life. Decisions
of government as per law sometimes leads to discretion and value of life gets affected in negative
manner.
Paragraph 5 (Agree)
Right to life is a moral principal that is based on the belief that each individual have right
to life and should not be killed by another human being (Ritsner and et.al, 2012). Right to liberty
and security focuses on protecting freedom of an individual from unreasonable detention. Liberty
provides right to all persons to freedom of their person- freedom of movement and freedom from
arbitrary detention by others. Right to terminate one's life is part of right to liberty. As right to
terminate life is a concept that is based on the opinion the an individual is entitle to take decision
regarding ending up life by voluntary decision. A person who is ill and do not posses will to to
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continuous living are allowed to end their life by decision of court. Right to die is not available
in each country and these all rights helps in creating value to life of an individual. Right to life
shell be protected by law (Kniesner, Viscusi and Ziliak, 2014). This is considered as one of the
most important right among all the available rights. As without right to life it is not possible to
enjoy any other right. No one shell be condemned with death penalty without law. Doctors save
human life by curing various disease and considered most important that saves life and helps in
making a new life alive. Mankind is the most talented creature and that is why human life is
consider as most important. Astonishing and extraordinary physical and spiritual potential and
talent of humans makes them distinguish from other creatures. The right to life is one of the
inherent and natural rights of mankind. Inherent right means no legislated law is required for the
existence of right and this right is for everyone. Legislated law in every system and every society
must protect and defend the humans right to life to prove safety to mankind. Right to life is
possessed by a foetus also as it is considered as sufficiently human. When decisions regarding
abortions is made then it spoils right to life of a foetus. This right helps to improve value of life
as importance to life of mankind is given even before birth. Human rights that are provided by
law brings equality in value of life for each individual. Whereas, for an individual this value
differs and depends upon the person. As worth of life for a family member or any relative will be
more then a complete stranger for an individual. Main reason regarding criminal activities
performed by criminals is inequality in value of life that is considered by each human. When
humans will consider others life equally important then crime rate that harms human life will be
reduced. Law in a country is designed in such manner that judicial system can be improved and
illegal actions can be controlled in country. Equal punishments will be provided to law breakers
to create a sense of responsibility to follow each guidelines provided by law. A effective law
system in a country helps to create security among general public that its safe to live and if any
law is not obeyed then punishments will be provided to law breaker. Rules and regulation in
United Kingdom are even for each individual and when punishments are granted then no
discrimination is made (Fuller and Moore, 2017). Value of life of a human being is considered as
“priceless”. So, before granting punishments situation in which any action is taken will be
critically examined, this will help to stop inhuman judgements and punishments to individuals.
Having law in order in a country helps to reduce rate of crime and ultimately various priceless
human life are saved by the law. When law provides importance to human life then it creates
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sense of responsibility among humans and think twice before acting illegal. When a crime is
committed and judgements are provided to give punishments then references of previous cases
that are similar is considered before passing any judgement. Therefore, by considering various
benefits in deciding value of life by law and identifying drawbacks when value is decided by an
individuals. Deciding value of life by law will be considered right in comparison to individual as
it promotes equality and security among general public (Value of life, 2018).
CONCLUSION
From the above project report it is considered that life is very important and each
individual should value his/her life. Value of life is not limited to own life together with this
importance should be given to others by giving importance to their life. As individuals are biased
regarding their decisions for person they know or to a complete stranger. This leads this report to
develop a conclusion that value of life should be decided by law. As law provides equality to
each individual and no discretion is done. When value of life is decided by law then fair chance
will be provided to prove innocence before granting any punishment.
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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.
Appadurai, A., 2012. Commodities and the politics of value. In Interpreting objects and
collections (pp. 88-103). Routledge.
Experts in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, 2013. Price of drugs for chronic myeloid leukemia
(CML), reflection of the unsustainable cancer drug prices: perspective of CML Experts.
Blood, pp.blood-2013.
Doucouliagos, H., Stanley, T. D. and Viscusi, W. K., 2014. Publication selection and the income
elasticity of the value of a statistical life. Journal of Health Economics. 33. pp.67-75.
Hultkrantz, L. and Svensson, M., 2012. The value of a statistical life in Sweden: A review of the
empirical literature. Health policy. 108(2-3). pp.302-310.
Ritsner and et.al, 2012. Ten-year quality of life outcomes among patients with schizophrenia and
schizoaffective disorder II. Predictive value of psychosocial factors. Quality of Life
Research. 21(6). pp.1075-1084.
Kniesner, T. J., Viscusi, W. K. and Ziliak, J. P., 2014. Willingness to accept equals willingness
to pay for labor market estimates of the value of a statistical life. Journal of Risk and
Uncertainty. 48(3). pp.187-205.
Fuller, M. and Moore, R., 2017. The death and life of great American cities. Macat Library.
Online
Value of life. 2018. [Online]. Available
through:<https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/aspergers-diary/200911/what-is-
the-value-life>
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