Life Matters: Bugs, Bots, and Beyond

What is the value of life? It’s a question we rarely stop to ask, yet it affects how we treat the world around us. From the tiniest plant to humans, robots, and even imagined alien species, the idea of what deserves care and rights differs widely. Consider these examples:

Animals: Some people fight for the protection of endangered species like elephants and pandas, while others don't think twice about stepping on a spider.
Humans: War and systemic inequalities can devalue human life in some places while it is cherished in others.
Plants: Massive deforestation destroys entire ecosystems, raising the question of whether plant life is undervalued.
Robots: As AI becomes more lifelike, some argue they deserve rights, while others see them as tools.
Aliens: If intelligent alien life were discovered, how would humanity treat it?

Each of these examples challenges us to think about what makes life valuable: intelligence, emotions, usefulness, or something else?

Choose ONE of the following to focus on:

Plants
Animals
Humans
Robots
Alien life (real or imagined).

Analyze and Decide:

Rights: What qualities or characteristics does a living thing need to posess to qualify to have certain rights?

Compare: Should this group have more, less, or equal rights to humans? Why or why not?

Responsibilities: What responsibilities do humans have toward this group?

Special Qualities: What makes this group unique or valuable?