Whose Death Matters More?

PajamasMedia/FasterPlease/Michael Ledeen ^ | March 2nd, 2010 | Michael Ledeen

[nuconvert]

I think the first time I grappled with this question was in an undergraduate philosophy course. The professor was a Yaley, very very smart, and loved to provoke us. His job, after all. So one day, when a famous person had died, he said in his flippant way, “obviously this man was much more important than Joe Schmoe down the block, and the society should value him more, and try harder to protect him and tend to him if he’s sick, etc etc.”

And so we debated, in the way of young students. Who is to say that one man’s life is worth more than another’s? Maybe Mr Schmoe was a better husband/father than Einstein, where does that go in the balance scales of life? Yes, we will long remember Einstein, and no one remembers Schmoe except maybe his dear ones, but still…

In a way, there’s nothing to debate, because Einstein had a far greater effect on far more people than Schmoe did. But one of the great achievements of Western civilization is our conviction that every human life is precious, and that belief underlies the entire Judeo-Christian enterprise. So, while Einstein will live forever, as they say, Schmoe was endowed with the same fundamental rights, and in that sense Schmoe was as important as Einstein.

So what to do with those who laugh at us, and who despise our love of life? What of Nazis who murder millions who they judge unworthy or inferior? What of the Muslim terrorists who tell us that they will destroy Western civilization precisely because we value life while they embrace death, ours and their own? Do we ignore their threats, and treat them the same way as we treat one another?

[sauropod]

read

[ClearCase_guy]

The Liberal do-gooders are all about Joe Schmoe. They want to help him, because he's pretty darn important. But if Joe's last name is "The Plumber", and if he disapproves of socialism ... well ... then it's time for the Liberal do-gooders go medieval on him.

Bottomline: Liberal do-gooders do not care about the downtrodden. Never have. They just want power.

[Lawgvr1955]

Not to get into the professor's ethical (or non-ethical) discussion, but all life has merit.

One example, Al Capone's lawyer. He may be considered to have been a drag on society, and that my be true. But he also fathered Butch O'Hare, a Medal of Honor winner for whom O'Hare Airport is named.

[Scotsman will be Free]

Kill all of the schmoes.

[Tax-chick]

Mine.