Killing to Prevent Murders and Save Lives

Abstract

In The Structure of Value, Robert Hartman attempted to define the entire landscape of value. Central to this landscape is the division of all values into three types: Intrinsic, Extrinsic, and Systemic value. In addition, Hartman developed a value calculus whose intent is to calculate diverse value combinations, thereby demonstrating which combinations are better and worse. Moore’s opinion is that the calculus developed by Hartman is inadequate. Hartman’s calculus relies on transfinite and finite cardinal numbers, and Moore’s belief is that this mechanism is inadequate. Moore has attempted to redefine Hartman’s calculus in a finite rather than a transfinite way. In this paper, he takes two value or ethical questions and subjects them to his finite calculus. These two questions are: 1) Is it justifiable to murder someone in order to prevent the murder of five persons? 2) Is it justifiable for a doctor to kill someone in order to harvest organs to be used by five other person to save their lives? The paper is an analysis of these value questions, and the results from his calculus show that the answer to both questions is negative.