Every single human life is valuable, but is every life worth the same? Some say yes, some say no, but there is no clear-cut answer. The argument consists of two primary reasons for valuing a life: sentimental value, and financial value. Balancing these ideals is a difficult process that normally is avoided, but when fate brings death, they must be brought to light. The four resources we read were significantly different in their evaluations of a life. In the soliloquy from Hamlet, by Shakespeare, Hamlet ponders what the purpose of a life is, and compares the two options he feels he has: life or death - to be or not to be. Hamlet considers the emotional facets and difficulties of life, ultimately not placing a necessarily high value on life, but deciding regardless to not perform a suicide. Life has more meaning than Hamlet gives credit to, as he only considers the negative aspects facing him currently. Normally, a life is filled with positive elements and friends that appreciate one’s existence, together being a good estimate of emotional worth.
The article by Amanda Ripley titled “What Is a Life Worth?” brings light to a real-world situation where
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As Ripley’s article states, “The concept of assigning a price tag to a life has always made people intensely squeamish. After all, isn’t it degrading to presume that money can make a family whole again?” Her statement rings true; no amount of money can replace a child’s father, or the only daughter of a family. It feels immoral to try to replace someone with money, so much so, that people will often ask for more, even when dealing with remarkably large sums of money. It is at this point when the victim’s families must realize that the money is not meant to make up for the death of a loved one, just ease the pain. As Phillip Bobbitt said in Ripley’s article, “We’re not trying to make you psychologically