Life (moral value)

Life, or the preservation of it, is often thought to be the single moral principle by which actions should be measured. Arguably, there are values which supersede life: safety, the quality of life, justice, etc.

For example, to what extent life should be valued is measured by quality. It is fairly reasonable to say that one cannot have safety without life, but it is more reasonable to say that safety increases the value of life. In other words, what is the quality of life without safety? Another way to ask this would be: "Don't soldiers sacrifice their life for the safety of others?" This, of course, suggests that safety is more important than life. The moral value of life is also a paradox in some situations, because sometimes it takes the sacrifice of life to preserve life.

Popular ideologies that may place a heavy emphasis on life are vegetarianism, veganism, pacifism, and anti-abortion activism.

The Terri Schiavo situation also highlighted the issues involved in evaluating the viability and presence of human life.