Weighing Lives

This book explores how to assess the value of lives, addressing complex moral dilemmas related to choices individuals and societies face. It combines philosophical insights with economic methods for practical implications.

Weighing Lives explores the complex ethical question of how to assess the value of human lives in various contexts. The author develops a theoretical framework to address this practical issue, engaging with contemporary moral theories, including consequentialism and teleology. The book delves into the nuances of comparing lives against one another and weighing them against other societal goods, illustrating the difficult choices individuals and societies must often make.

Throughout the narrative, the author presents real-life scenarios that highlight the moral dilemmas involved in these decisions. For instance, a terminally ill patient may grapple with the choice between palliative care and aggressive treatment, weighing the potential for extended life against the suffering that may accompany it. Similarly, societal decisions, such as transportation policies and their environmental impact, force us to consider the long-term consequences for future generations. These examples underscore the pressing need for a coherent ethical framework to guide our evaluations of life and wellbeing.

One of the book's critical discussions revolves around the ethics of population and the common belief that increasing population size is ethically neutral. The author challenges this intuition, arguing that it cannot be easily integrated into a consistent theory of value. By employing methods from economic theory alongside philosophical inquiry, Weighing Lives offers valuable insights not only for philosophers but also for economists and political theorists who seek to understand the implications of valuing human lives in their work.