Human Value

When we speak of value of human beings one may wonder that human beings are not offered for sale like other commodities in market and hence such a thinking is strange and has hardly any practical value.

In economics, price of thing is its value expressed in terms of money.

As far as human beings are concerned though they are legally not offered for sale, their services are offered, purchased and hired. Professionals, servants, employees, thier services are engaged for a price as per the terms and conditions agreed upon.

In our hindu mythology, sun dynasty king Harishchandra sold his wife, son and himslef for a price. Why till recently, slave trade was in vogue. Even in modern times we hear and read in newspapers of flesh trade, selling of young girls. "Jeethadalu, etc etc. Sellings of young girls etc etc thought not allowed by present lay of many countires, still it is heard and read about.

As per the materialistic thinking that is according to economists there are only two things are offerered for sale and purchased - goods and services. We are also hearing and reading about the offere and sale of human parts and organs which are purchased for transplantation, transfusion and grafting, and which is allowed by the law of many countries.

Value of human life is assessed for life insurance purposes by the premium paying capacity of the person proposed to insure. This value for practical purpose only.

Highly qualified or trained person possess potential capacity and unless that potential capacity is released and translated into the form of useful and constructive work, such potential capacity, many a time has hardly any value for practical purposes. In other words, potential capacity has its value when translated to action and not inaction.