What's the $ value of a human being? (ethical, drug, regular)

[Neuling]

I was just reading a headline about someone that got killed because of about 5000 dollars.
Of course that happens all the time, even because of much smaller amounts. To me it is just horrible to think that some humans out there obviously think notes and coins are more important than the life of a human being. Sure, people also get killed because of immaterial things like insults, religion, etc. all the time. But because of banknotes and coins?!

Makes me wonder what the $ value of a human being is, if it can be determined in the first place.
Personally I don't think it is even possible to determine such a value. It would have serious consequences. Certain people would start to argue that it might be justified to kill someone if what is gained from that helps others. Things like that...

So, does a certain amount of money alone justify taking the life of a human being? Is there a value where you would say, gee, with, say, 10 million bucks we could help so many other people or do this and that? Or do you think that the life of a human being is sacred (or simply taboo if you are an atheist) no matter what?

[Bpobill]

Someone who commits a violent crime like rape or murder? I don't think their life is worth a single cent. Just a regular good person? You can't put a price on that. I wouldn't take an innocent life for any amount of money.

[Phil P]

This is a completely heartless but logical answer:

A human being is worth their most in their 20's. When they are this age, I would put the $ value at $1 million.
Children are worth less because not as much has been invested in them. So infants and newborns are worth the least.
Also as a person ages their value goes down. So a persons worth at this point is calculated by the amount of productive and quality time left in their lives. So people on their death beds are worth maybe like $78

The reason for calculating what a person is worth would be for a spending cap for which the government is willing to pay for medical bills of a person who has no money.

Again this is an answer if we throw all compassion and ethics and morality out the window.

[Jayess1]

It's called "actuarial science", and it's a very moral, ethical, and rational calculation of the relative value of a given individual to "society at large". There is not, however, any way to fix a cost or value to what one might personally value, be that another individual or say, a family member. Of course, one can always turn to the courts to change that assessment, in which case the "value" of that individual would be determined by the ability of representation.

[GER308]

Whole or sold for parts?

[colcat]

Originally Posted by GER308

Whole or sold for parts?

Ok, you are just wrong for that

[joyce88]

Money has a value because it is written in a law that can be changed in any time, so i logical mind can not compare a piece of paper with a human being.

[elnina]

All depends...
Environmental Protection Agency thinks it's $9.1 million,
Food and Drug Administration valued at $7.9 million,
The Transportation Department said: $6 million
a robber or a thug might kill just for fun...

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/17/bu...tion.html?_r=0

When we total the monetary value of the elements in our bodies and the value of the average person's skin, we arrive at a net worth of $4.50!
How much is my body worth?

[kutra11]

Depends... ...

Sean Hannity: Dog poop.
Lance Armstrong: Bird poop
Taylor Swift: One free drink
Lindsay Lohan: $0.69
Dr. Phil: $1.99

[ovcatto]

Originally Posted by kutra11

Depends... ...

Sean Hannity: Dog poop.
Lance Armstrong: Bird poop
Taylor Swift: One free drink
Lindsay Lohan: $0.69
Dr. Phil: $1.99

I think you've overvalued Dr. Phil