Thread: Why is human life such a high ideal, instead of human dignity?

I don't understand why rape isn't considered worse than murder. Throughout history, many people have preferred to die rather than suffer that fate. Slavery also.

Why do we praise Patrick Henry's speech given during the American Revolution which he concluded by saying "Give me liberty, or give me death!" --- if we actually feel that making someone a slave is not as bad as murder? Clearly if murder is the worse crime, then Patrick Henry had it wrong. He should have said: "Give me life, or give me slavery!!!" And offered to be a slave so as not to have to die or kill anyone else.

Rape worse than death? Maybe you'd think so at the time or even a year later. But you can't come back from death.

I agree with gottspieler. Death is game over, do not pass go, do not collect $200. Rape is just a really horrible event that happened to a person. Sure they may want to die while its happening or after, but they live and can go receive therapy and do something with their life. Death is permanent while rape is not. I have known a couple people that have been raped, they hated it, and felt used and horrible, but they eventually overcame those feelings and got on with their life.

Very few people will choose death over liberty. I am certainly not one. Given the option of being a slave or being dead, I will be a slave. The rest is slogans.

I hope Patrick Henry quote was not just a "slogan." I've dedicated the last 25 years (22 active duty) in military uniform to its sentiments.

Rape is nearly equally as bad as murder in the eyes of many cultures.

Originally Posted by Lynx_Fox

I hope Patrick Henry quote was not just a "slogan." I've dedicated the last 25 years (22 active duty) in military uniform to its sentiments.

Rape is nearly equally as bad as murder in the eyes of many cultures.

Some Middle Eastern extremists will slaughter raped women b/c they are considered "whores, dirty, tainted". The women themselves, I'm sure would chose life over death. The problem is the men often consider the "purity" of the women to be compromised after rape. Throughout history men have behaved as if they own women's bodies and hence access to the benefits of reproductive success. They want sole access to the women in order to know the offspring is their own. From ape society, to Yanomamo to modern Europe and America...men have behaved this way. This situation has been changing in modern times in America and Europe primarily due to the population boom. When resources are plentiful, there is no need to fight. There are enough women for all of us.

Patrick Henry's speech was given in order to sway the Virginian government to send troops in support of the Revolutionary War. He didn't yell it out in the hands of the British.

I don't doubt your bravery, Lynx. I do, however, believe that if anyone were faced with brutal torture potentially leading to a long, drawn out death or prolonged suffering they would cave in and beg to either live or to be killed quickly and as painlessly as possible.

Originally Posted by gottspieler

I do, however, believe that if anyone were faced with brutal torture potentially leading to a long, drawn out death or prolonged suffering they would cave in and beg to either live or to be killed quickly and as painlessly as possible.

Most would I agree. Some would also wish for death rather than a brutal rape continue. There are many things worse than death.

What about revenge? The potential for revenge might be a strong motivator for survival.

Originally Posted by GiantEvil

What about revenge? The potential for revenge might be a strong motivator for survival.

I agree, revenge would be all the motivation I'd need to sustain myself. If someone was torturing me, I think the only way I'd manage to stay alive would be to focus on how badly I'd get revenge on them once his was all over. Revenge definitely is a powerful reason to stay alive.

Related, to the title of the thread, why is euthanasia illegal? The philosophy of the law seems to be that no, we won't let you have a dignified death on your own terms, you have to wait until your organism's capacity to maintain life runs out, no matter how painful and undignified you find this to be.