Ethics of Life |
Every sentient being has a right to their life. No being can end the life of another. The right to life suggests other rights, such as the rights to be free of pain or confinement, and the rights to health, resources, security, pleasure, and reproduction. Animals, and the youth, although are much weaker than human adults, also have a right to their life, and consequently all the same rights that human adults have.
Every sentient being has a right to their life. To have a right to their life, means that they decide whether they live or die. No other being can enforce a state that is different from the sentient being's choosing. To do so, is a violation of life.
Every sentient being has a right to their health. Health includes being free of disease, as well as maintaining the physical integrity of the body. Without full health, a being will have a lower quality of life. Without sufficient health, a being will die. The right to health is directly linked to the right to life. No being may damage the health of another without the latter's consent. To do so, is a violation of life.
Every sentient being has a right to resources. Resources such as oxygen, water, food, medicine, and land, are essential for life. Without resources, a being would die. The right to resources is directly linked to a being's right to their life. No being can prevent another's access to essential resources. To do so, is a violation of life.
Every sentient being has a right to be free of pain. The sensation of pain is the most undesired component of life. When time is spent in pain, there is less time available for peace and happiness, reducing the amount of life a being may have. The right to be free of pain is directly linked to a being's right to their life. No being can inflict pain on another without the latter's consent. To do so, is a violation of life.
Every sentient being has a right to be free of confinement. Confinement includes locking criminals in prisons, putting animals in cages, and confining children to classrooms. Being confined can be a very painful experience for those who do not consent to it. In addition to being painful, confinement also prevents a being from accessing the resources they require. The right to be free of confinement is directly linked to the right to be free of pain, and the right to resources, and therefore linked to a being's right to their life. No being can confine another without the latter's consent. To do so, is a violation of life.
Every sentient being has a right to security. Security means to be safe from dangerous activity which may lead to a violation of being's rights. Security includes safety from death, pain, imprisonment, or any other violation of life. Intelligent beings will generally take actions to increase their security. This includes erecting a wall around their home, arming oneself without violating the security of others, or preventing others from executing dangerous activities. The right to security is directly linked with all other rights. No being can deny the security of another without the latter's consent. To do so, is a violation of life.
Every sentient being has a right to pleasure. The sensation of pleasure is the most desired component of life. Pleasure is what gives value to a being's own life. Taking pleasure away from a being is taking away that which gives their life value. The right to pleasure is directly linked to a being's right to their life. No being can prevent a person from feeling the pleasure they desire. To do so, is a violation of life.
Every sentient being has a right to reproduction. The right to reproduction, means that they decide whether they want to reproduce or not, and whether their gametes can be used for reproduction or not. No being may force another to reproduce, or force another not to reproduce. To do so, is a violation of life.
Every sentient being has a right to be free from rule. Humans tend to worship and obey rulers that are more powerful than them, such as children obeying parents and school teachers, and almost everybody obeying police, soldiers, and government. Rulers often claim to have ethical priority over those they rule over and profess false ethics. The popular belief that people should obey their rulers is false. Rulers often abuse and violate the rights of those they rule over. Forcing another to perform an action is a form of rule. Forcing another not to perform an action is also a form of rule. Nobody can rule over another. To do so is a violation of life.
The ethics of life apply to all animals. Every sentient animal has the same rights as sentient humans. The animals are the weakest of all forms of sentient life. In consequence, they are also the easiest to abuse, and presently, are abused to the most extreme extent of any kind of sentient being. Being alive and sentient, means that animals have all the same rights as humans. Abusing animals is a violation of life.
The ethics of life apply to all youth. Youth have all the same rights as adults have. Youth, includes all human beings that are younger than what society considers as adults. They are much weaker than adults, which makes it easy to abuse them. Consequently, they are much abused in ways that most society does not consider abuse at all. Being alive and sentient, means that youth have all the same rights as adults. Abusing youth is a violation of life.
Every sentient being has a right to be free from the rule of religion. Religions claim to have ethical priority over the entire world, and profess false ethics. The popular belief that one or more sentient beings have created the world, and have given humans a code of ethics to follow is false. Children are often forced to follow the religion of their parents, and governments who follow a religion often force all people they rule over to follow their religion. Nobody can force another to follow a religion. To do so is a violation of life.
Every sentient being has a right to be free of government. Governments make up the most powerful rulers of the known world. They are also the entities that perform the most and worst violations of life. They are responsible for the majority of human torture and deaths. While most societies will label as evil a civilian who murders a few humans, they also absurdly worship a government that murders thousands or millions of innocent people. Most societies will support almost all actions performed by their government. No government can rule over others. Governments are a violation of life.