Thoughts on value of life + Loving yourself

June 25, 2026

As inanimate things do not assign utilitarian value over one another, all inanimates must be of no value to other inanimates. A value or worth of something is either defined by the monetary amount or subjective importance of an item. For monetary amount is a simplified numerical denotation of market or private value, the monetary value do not hold value without the animates. In essence, a value is a subjective importance of an item and value without the animates are worthless.

What are the animates? Common animates may be considered the “living” beings such as humans, mammals, insects (Animal Kingdom). Other animates may be plants, fungi, and bacterias. Humans generally assign higher value for ourselves. As other animates (Carnivores, herbivore, insectivore) also consumes other animates and inanimates, we can assume they also assign subjective value. Even if humans were to vanish in this world, the other animates will continue to value the world. The value equation must be that animates are more valuable than the inanimates.

A hard question remains. Commonly, individuals value to oneself is infinite for the world ceases to hold value of us if we cease. If we assign our own value at infinite, we need to more importantly consider the value of the other animates other than our own. In economics, there is the “Value of Statistical Life” which helps governments/entities decide on cost-benefit analysis of projects. In USA, VSL is around $10 million USD. In South Sudan, VSL is ~$2,500 USD. An American dog’s VSL is ~$10,000 USD. Is one American worth more than four thousand South Sudanese or is one American dog worth more than four South Sudanese? Morally? Probably no. Economically? Probably yes.

The problem with VSL is that it’s an statistical (seemingly “objective”) numerical denotation of a subjective value that does not hold true if we remove its numerical environment. For numbers without its environment is meaningless, comparing numbers in different environments is also meaningless. However, this teaches us something important. Our own valuation of ourselves determines our own intrinsic value. A common self-help advice is to love yourself, which never made sense to me. To reinterpret the phrase for oneself, it’s to place value on the animates and inanimates that brings you joy and contentedness. It’s to prioritize things that you value for yourself. If you chose to smile and such action brings you joy, why not smile? If you value certain principles, why not live by them?

My Core Principles (for now):

1. Authenticity
2. Growth
3. Curiosity
4. Friendships
5. Respect
6. Stability