> It's a contrived scenario Any time you help people is a contrived scenario? Uhh... I certainly hope not. Putting a valuation on life is not a result of philo

> It's a contrived scenario Any time you help people is a contrived scenario? Uhh... I certainly hope not. Putting a valuation on life is not a result of philosophical debate, it's a direct, unintentional, unavoidable consequence of any real-world action we take that helps people. The only way to avoid it is to avoid helping people. Which is ludicrous. > Terrorism vs heart disease just don't really compete. They sure compete for tax dollars and public attention. > We're not machines. No kidding. That's why we prefer chasing Bin Laden to chasing heart disease. The "value of a life" discussion is an accusatory finger that says "yeah, actually we did have a choice there, and our choice had consequences," and I understand how that's uncomfortable, but that's exactly why we need the tool to hold our instincts accountable, such as we can.