do humans have value?

The earth has been around roughly 4.5 billions years... the earliest sign of human life on earth was 2 -3 million years.. that's roughly less than 1% of the earth entire life's entire history. To put that in a realistic time frame, if the history of the earth is 1 year (365 days), humans have been around 4.8 hours. To think the earth is merely here for our use and purpose is exactly the mindset why we see mankind, society and the world in the shape it is in..pure selfishness and and extremely narrow minded beyond comprehension.

HeidiJam wrote:

Can you tell me why the earth is here?

I don't know what has value compared to what doesn't, but I'm sure there's some type of hierarchy depending what values you deem significant. I think everything has value to some extent, but also don't think there's as much separation between them all as some would have you believe.

dpmay wrote:

i appreciate all the thought put into these posts. i am a little surprised it has taken a 'man vs animal' turn here, as that was not what my question was about at all...

some questions posed to those who have had a lot of negative things to say about humans (with which i do not necessarily disagree): do you think humans have no value? the same value as anything else in the natural universe? more? less?

(again i suppose it hinges on your definition of value, but whatever, just go with it.)

dpmay wrote:

i appreciate all the thought put into these posts. i am a little surprised it has taken a 'man vs animal' turn here, as that was not what my question was about at all...

some questions posed to those who have had a lot of negative things to say about humans (with which i do not necessarily disagree): do you think humans have no value? the same value as anything else in the natural universe? more? less?

(again i suppose it hinges on your definition of value, but whatever, just go with it.)

humans have as much value as anything else on this planet. or should i say everything on this planet is of equal value to humans. i do not believe generally speaking humans understand this. just because technology has afforded us ways to destroy the planet that does not mean we are of higher value than the creature that dams a river or chases down an antelope, the beetle that eats dung or the majestic primates whom many seem more than eager to distance themselves from. nor are we of anymore importance than the millions of plants that provide the medicines that keep us living longer and cure our diseases. the thing of most value is the planet itself. it is here to sustain us and the other billions of entities that inhabit it.

what i think is of less value is the culture that has allowed us to perpetuate such destruction, even after we know we are living wrong, upon the only home we will ever know. what kind of intelligent being destroys its home because it refuses to live any other way??

redrock wrote:

How do you assess your value though?

i dont... not really. alls i know is everything on this planet is here because it belongs here. therefore everything is interrelated and of equal value. sure untold species are lost every year, usually due to the destruction of their habitats and yes humans reek havoc on the planet. unfortunately one day it will be time to pay the piper and for humans the cost will be their extinction.

catefrances wrote:

i dont... not really.
.

And one shouldn't.

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The very reason one should not assess value. Though humans and animals do assess this value constantly. Humans in an emotional and/or pragmatic way (eg 'I offer more to society therefore I am of more value', 'this person comitted a crime therefore he/she is of less value than the law abiding person, 'I love this person therefore he/she is more valuable than the man on the street, etc.), animals by instinct (eg if not enough food, the runt of the litter does not get fed, in case of danger, the sick and meek get left behind).

redrock wrote:

catefrances wrote:

i dont... not really.
.

And one shouldn't.


The very reason one should not assess value. Though humans and animals do assess this value constantly. Humans in an emotional and/or pragmatic way (eg 'I offer more to society therefore I am of more value', 'this person comitted a crime therefore he/she is of less value than the law abiding person, 'I love this person therefore he/she is more valuable than the man on the street, etc.), animals by instinct (eg if not enough food, the runt of the litter does not get fed, in case of danger, the sick and meek get left behind).

i think its a mistake to attribute human concepts to animals.

i dont think animals assess value at all. they live by instinct(as you said) and the 'law of the jungle'. its survival of the fittest and if you cant keep up then youre gone.

redrock wrote:

We'll be going back to the human/animal discussion :? Animals will not have the concept of value as I believe it's a concept us humans have 'created' to justify our place in society and our deeds. Concept based on morals, intellect, emotions and religion (to mention a few). I believe if we did not place ourselves on these ladders, we would not have been able to progress (in a good or bad way) as we have and been able to 'form' a working society (with laws, hierarchy, etc.). Again, whether one considers it good or bad.

morals and laws are social constructs. and therefore imo cant be used to assess value, if one wanted to do such a thing.

Ive said it once already and ill say it again - "You are describing issues in mankinds society and trying to identify it with an animals society who's whole purpose is to survive, you can't compare an animals primitive society to ours". Animals don't value life because they have no concept of what it means to value life, what they do is based on instinct and survival, and when they do something humans like to put a human emotion or tag on what they do. I don't understand the few that are bashing humanity for surviving (by using the earths resources) but yet if we witnessed an animal do the things we do we would recognize it as how inteligent they are. I don't know why some of you can't grasp the concept that what we are doing is part of our nature, we just attached morals to everything we do. For those saying the earth is not here for us, I understand that but where do you draw the line in terms of using the resources and destroying ecosystems? Building a house is destroying a house for some other species, same is walking on the grass you are destroying lives of alphids... Where does it end. Since when is survival about being nice?

g.

can you tell me the secret of which god is the right one?