From: R. Coyote (coyyote@hotmail.com)
Date: Wed May 22 2002 - 10:21:00 MDT
Save
5yo 10F
15yo 10F
25yo 10F
35yo 10F
45yo 10F
55yo 10F
95yo 10M
----- Original Message -----
From: "ct" <tilley314@attbi.com>
To: <extropians@extropy.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2002 8:28 AM
Subject: Valuation of Human Life
> At 06:45 PM 5/21/2002 -0700, you wrote:
> > Note that I
> >never said that there were not women who were
> >individually much better than the average man. My
> >position is strictly that on average, women are less
> >valuable, and I further restricted that to present day
> >America.
>
> Well, hmmm.
> ====================================================
> Two hundred humans have gathered on an isolated island.
> Stratification(age/gender):
> 5yo 10F/10M
> 15yo 10F/10M
> 25yo 10F/10M
> 35yo 10F/10M
> 45yo 10F/10M
> 55yo 10F/10M
> 65yo 10F/10M
> 75yo 10F/10M
> 85yo 10F/10M
> 95yo 10F/10M
>
> All 200 have just been exposed to a toxin that is fatal within 72hrs.
>
> You have sufficient antidote to "save" 70 humans. You must choose seven
> groups (age/gender) of ten each that will receive the anti-sera.
>
> Which groups do you save?
> =====================================================
> Admittedly, this is a poorly constructed study. However, it does provide
> gross information as to your personal system of human life valuation.
>
> A rigorous study could involve CV (contingent valuation) and WTP
> (willingness to pay) to elicit a more representative valuation of human
> life by age and gender. Similar assessments have been done to gauge public
> opinion in allocating limited resources for risk reduction in areas
ranging
> from auto safety to GMO's.
>
> Reference Values for Human Life:
> www-cenerg.ensmp.fr/english/themes/impact/ pdf/Desaigues&Rabl1995.pdf
> ====================================================
>
> A more current project assessing human life valuation can be viewed
through
> the EPA's STAR program (Science To Achieve Results). See Part 2:
Valuation
> of Avoiding Delayed-Onset and Long-Term Health Risks
> http://es.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/chilval01.html
>
> This deals with applying value to current reductions in risk, where the
> outcome (measured in morbidity and mortality) is significantly delayed.
> Cancer and obesity would be two prime examples.
>
> [Complicating factors influencing valuation include both risk and
> population characteristics. Risk characteristics that may affect
valuations
> of health risks include: timing of the premature fatality, the nature of
> the associated morbidity and the dread and/or fear associated with the
> risk, voluntariness and controllability of the risk, the public vs.
private
> nature of the risk (and resulting considerations of altruistic
> preferences), and other psychological factors that may affect risk
> perceptions. Population characteristics include: income, risk attitudes,
> age, and health status of the affected population. Health risks may differ
> across all of these factors and, consequently, so may preferences and
> willingness-to-pay.]
>
> I am personally interested in the factor "dread and/or fear associated
with
> the risk". Perhaps greater current risk reduction would ensue if obesity
> and Alzheimer's exchanged delayed manifestations. Fit the punishment to
the
> crime, if-you will.
>
>
> So. In this infinite world of finite memory with infinite lifetime
> iterations, is there space/time for a permutation or two?
>
>
> But, then, I refer to the Encarta definition for iteration and realize
that
> permutation isn't a requirement after all.
>
> iteration:
> 1. Repetition. The instance or the act of doing something again.
> 2. Math. Step-by-Step Process. A process of achieving a desired result by
> repeating a sequence of steps and successively getting closer to that
result.
> 3. Comput. Repetition of Steps. The repetition of a sequence of
> instructions in a computer program until a result is achieved.
>
> Now, if only each iteration didn't take So Very Long!
> Patience is a virtue afforded many adults, but of little value to either
> the young or the aged. (whose perception of time is
compressed...relatively
> speaking)
>
>
>
>
>
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