The Value of Life.

In modern Western society, human life is often accorded an absolute value, with a complete prohibition on taking human life. In practice, there are a number of circumstances in which the taking of human life is sometimes regarded as justifiable:

• Killing enemy soldiers during war.
• Executing criminals.
• Aborting foetuses.
• Removing life support from terminally ill patients.

In some cases, people hold to the absolute prohibition, and refuse to fight in wars, and protest against executions, abortion, and euthanasia. And the prohibition on killing is often extended to include the killing of animals.