> If lives were equal value then taking the life of a child would be equally as bad as taking the life of an 80 year old - but most people do not think that way

> If lives were equal value then taking the life of a child would be equally as bad as taking the life of an 80 year old - but most people do not think that way. ? So is murder of an 80-year old worse, or murder of a child? I'm confused, because I don't really think that way. I'm also not buying into this self-obsessed view of "value". Americans and Europeans do more damage to the world per capita than anyone else in terms of of energy consumption, pollution, and creating economic inequality. Their charitability does not really make up for it. For me the only distinction is that I value people I know more than people I don't know. However, everyone is someone I could get to know.