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The Intrinsic Value of Mae Magouirk

Captain Ed from Captain's Quarters comments that the case of Mae Magouirk demonstrates a preference and presumption of death "for those people we find inconvenient." Otherwise there would be no explanation why the probate judge would overrule Magouirk's living will and the objections of closer relatives in favor of a granddaughter who wants to kill Magouirk. He writes,

We heard repeatedly that the big lesson was to draft a living will, but in this case -- if WND has its facts straight -- a living will does no good in the courtroom.

No, the lesson we should have taken from the Schiavo case is that our courts and our society has taken a utilitarian view of human life, one that measures value by the scale of the young and healthy. Beth Gaddy asked, "Who would want to live like this?" According to Ora Mae's own living will, she would -- and no enlightened society should presume to end Magouirk's life in defiance of that wish. Boyd's action in probate court -- an odd place to get this kind of judgment for a living person -- shows not so much a judicial bias towards utilitarianism, but a reflection of the utilitarianism that pervades Western societies as a whole. Euthanasia of the willing has led to euthanasia of the uncertain, and now in Magouirk's case, euthanasia of the completely unwilling.

I particularly appreciate Captain Ed's description of the progressive nature of euthanasia in Western society from the willing to the unwilling. This evolution follows from the belief that the value of life is based upon its utilitarian benefit as determined, of course, by others in society.

The valuation of human life on the basis of a characteristic, quality or contribution inevitably leads to the oppression of the undesirable; those whom others find "inconvenient" or of little worth. This type of valuation is termed "instrumental" and requires some defining characteristic to provide worth and another person to recognize it. Because instrumental value depends on a characteristic or quality, if either is absent or lost, the person loses his or her worth.

Many other societies have progressed down this path and have left a legacy of horror and autrocity.

The true value of humans is intrinsic. Human life is precious and worth protecting and sustaining because of the value placed upon it by a transcendent source (God) apart from each person's health status, maturity, intelligence, race, abilities, etc.

Thus, a practical consequence of the rejection of God is a change in the way humans perceive the value of others. As society is secularized, it becomes man-centered and value is assigned based upon maturity, contribution to society, etc. Using an example from the presidential election, Sen. John Kerry stated that he believed life begins at conception. He explained that abortion was still justified because personhood begins later. So, life is not valuable until it reaches a certain point of maturity, defined mystically as the point of "personhood."

As stated by Captain Ed, Mae's distinction from others is one of utility, which is not a characteristic that adds value to the human kind. Therefore, she is as valuable as those who are not in her same condition. As I mentioned earlier, a society that can justify the killing of a certain kind of human will, over time, become more consistent in its belief system and aggressive in its oppression of the weak and helpless.

Posted by tim at April 9, 2005 11:52 PM

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