quick philosophy question

[arahant]

The only practical way I see to assign a value to a life is the NPV of future economic value.

Unfortunately, this means most 90-year-olds get a negative number.

But even on other, non-practical measures of the value of a life, I agree with you...I see no way to argue that the 5-year-old isn't more valuable. Give the 5yrold an expensive and prolonged terminal illness, and the calculus might change.