The Death Lottery and Value of Life

Bry Willis examines this philosophical text, a thought experiment known as The Death Lottery, presented by John Harris, which asks whether it is morally permissible to kill one innocent person to save the lives of three others through organ donation. The author critically assesses the inherent assumption that human life possesses inherent value, arguing that this concept is a human construct with theological origins, rather than an objective truth. The piece suggests that if we reject the notion of sacred value, the ethical dilemma presented by the lottery collapses. It further explores the anti-natalist perspective, which posits that existence is inherently negative, suggesting that saving lives in the lottery would actually increase suffering. Ultimately, the text proposes that the Death Lottery is not a true test of morality but rather a test of our willingness to accept unexamined, emotionally convenient premises about the value of life.https://philosophics.blog/2025/04/24/the-death-lottery-what-is-the-value-of-life/