Spring 2003

by Naomi Artru,
Contributing writer

Philosopher and bioethicist R. G. Frey of Bowling Green University recently said "We must face the prospect that the lives of some perfectly healthy animals have a higher quality and greater value than the lives of some humans. And we must fact this prospect, with all the implications it may have for the use of these unfortunate humans by others" including "the use of defective humans in research." The implication is that, because these people are not contributing to society in a material way, they are not useful, are only a burden, and therefore we need not keep them around.

Some recent reflections I read by 7th graders proved to me that many young people have a lot more wisdom than these bioethicists. Here is a quote written by a 7th grader, and sent to us by his teacher, who is introducing her students to the Life Principles model of the Four Levels of Happiness:

"I think I understand the Fourth Level of Happiness, Ultimate Good. I think it is when you recognize yourself as an image of God, and living in union with God."

This explanation, written by a 7th grader, sums up the argument against using human beings as sources for spare parts. After learning that the Fourth Level of Happiness is what human beings are made for, this student understood that human beings are sacred because God created us in His image, and that people are valuable to God and created to live in union with Him.

Another quote, from a Life Principles student, explains why people are valuable when they are severely incapacitated, and how we can find happiness, even when our lives do not fit the culture's definition of success. This 8th grader understands that true riches are found in loving relationships, and that the ultimate relationship we are made for is with God. After learning about the Four Levels of Happiness, this 8th grader writes:

"I understand that I don't always have to be successful (I'm a perfectionist). I understand that being happy for, or with someone, is better than for self. I understand that I should not be unhappy, because God loves me and that is the ultimate happiness to know that."

Young people seem to understand the Fourth Level of Happiness very well. Perhaps they accept it more easily because they are closer to infancy, when their life centered on giving and receiving love unconditionally, without having to perform or meet up to certain standards of worth or value in order to merit care from their parents. This is how God loves us, and this is how He calls us to love each other.