Introduction to the Consistent Life Ethic
What is the Consistent Life Ethic?
An Overview of the Consistent Life Ethic
The Consistent Life Ethic is a philosophy that opposes the killing of human beings. It is the belief that killing people should never be legally sanctioned. People who support the Consistent Life Ethic believe that human life has intrinsic value and inherent worth.
The value of human beings is not based on their age, ability, degree of independence, accomplishments, condition of guilt or innocence, country of origin, religious or political beliefs, or any other factor. Rather, we all have inherent value because we are human.
By virtue of our shared humanity, we are all valuable, and we all deserve to be protected from lethal violence. Every human individual has a right to life.
Consistent Life Ethic supporters oppose war, euthanasia, assisted suicide, the death penalty, and abortion. We oppose racism and discrimination against the disabled (ableism) as threats to human life and dignity. We seek to help the poor. Sex trafficking, poverty, and homelessness, as well as lack of healthcare, are also threats to human life and are issues we care about.
Key to the Consistent Life Ethic is opposition to the belief that some lives…
