Worth

What is the worth of a life, any life? Does life really have worth at all? Or, is life simply life, its own reason and value by way of simply being? The relative absence of life off our planet in our observable Universe plays on our animal urge to forfend deprivation. That animal urge tells the brain, "More is always better than less."

Within humanity, we tend to elevate the worth of one life in contrast to other lives. We are comparative creatures. This is the basis of our ability to do science. This also gets us into trouble. Those who can exploit fame for power often disappoint and abuse.

I think of two trees, living beings. One is the Washington Elm. The other is a single tree in a remote forest. The Washington Elm is the most-likely-mythical tree associated with George Washington (a most-likely-mythical giant of true democracy). The single tree in the forest is a tree. Both beings serve important roles in our ecology. They purify water, prevent erosion, provide oxygen and nutrients. Human beings attribute greater value to the Washington Elm. It becomes sanctified by association with human behavior, ideas and emotions. Yet, it is intrinsically no more or less than the tree in the forest. It simply is coincidentally located near human history. The single tree in the forest could be killed as part of a clear-cut massacre without any human being noting it or caring about its demise. The Washington Elm still resides in human memory by virtue of a plaque on a city sidewalk, even though its significance is still legitimately questioned.

As a humanist, I am always fascinated by what human beings cherish. I am saddened by how few human beings truly cherish themselves and others. Prizing fame and wealth above our basic humanity has never brought us peace and universal justice. Striving for more rather than better with our uniquely human brain has brought us to the brink of planetary dysfunction and our possible extinction. I am the single tree in the forest of humanity. My practice is what I bring to the species, to the planet. It does not have to be famous or profitable to have worth.