Is there an inherent value in the organizations, systems of belief, or other social structures that humans build? For example, if there was a catastrophe that killed every single member of a certain religion, or country, or corporation, or other such structure, was more lost than the individual lives?
Hi, Ucc!
Oh, absolutely. Institutions, even if we are not a part of them, influence everything around them. So if we’re measuring “value” by how much influence something imparts, yes, I would say there is definitely an inherent value.
I’d say that any such definition of ‘inherent value’ would be itself part of a system of belief that has been constructed. That’s not really an answer.
SIATD:
It's a good point though. I was taking the value of human life for granted with my question, for one has to begin somewhere. I think in general, this isn't a concept that's addressed very often, and it impacts the conversations we've been having on sexuality- at least, it does for me. What I'm getting at is, if someone proposes a change to society, is the effects on 'culture' something that need to be evaluated? Is damage to a culture a valid consequence that must be weighted against benefits like increased happiness or effeciency?
Of course, within the discourse which takes some sort of culture as valuable per se, without question, then any example of cultural conflict (subversion, invention, cultural death and so on) should take such things into account. That’s more a discursive rule than an ethical one, and as such might not be what you are looking for.