The question has been around since the beginning of analytical thought, but has become ever more perplexing since the arrival of humans, to philosophers across the galaxy...
Deathworlders, in Comparison to Havenworlders, are Incredibly short lived. and Humans, even excepting acts of self sacrifice, attempts at Darwin awards, and general mishappenings, a regular human has an expected lifespan of 90 to 110 standard years in optimal conditions. compared to the Hundreds that most Havenworlders live, (or as many humans put it, merely survive), humans are often compared to lightning; extremely bright, absolutely beautiful, comparatively devastating and tragically (or mercifully depending on your view) brief.
...and so it is asked,
"What constitutes a full and well lived life?" -- Adam From Darwin
Vessels and livesuits in Galactic Space have recording devices that preserve the final moments of the occupants. They have this so that those sweeping up the mess can have a chance at formulating better protection for the next time such trouble arises. This has lead to the discovery that Humans have two sets of dying words.
Those they say to their friends, and those they say to themselves. If there is an enemy they are fighting in the process, then the other set becomes a defiant battle-cry in an attempt to intimidate the enemy. The most common last words to allies forms the Last Lie, "You go ahead, I'll catch up."
The most common words to themselves are, "I've lived a good life." That is, when the Humans in question have the time to accept their impending demise. Far too many do not. Every single Human who has laid down their life for others accepts this end with determination and those five words.
The Cogniscent Rights Committee, in the middle of determining the best needs for all cogniscent creatures, begs to differ. The CRC would have it that every cogniscent has the right to a full and well-lived life. This looks great in the paperwork, but absolute eons have been spent debating what, exactly, "full" or "well-lived" actually meant.
Since the CRC is an organisation that, by definition, can be overwhelmed by points of order missing the heart of the matter or exorcising the spirit of the law, the debate has raged on since the ideal's inception. It's only become worse since Humans appeared on the scene.
Humanity tends to view the definition of 'full' in conjunction with life as a life filled with adventure, love, companionship, and at minimum, fun. What is fun for Humans is baffling to many and straight-up terrifying to most.
The CRC, in conflict with this, tend to view 'full' to mean, "the maximum number of years that a cogniscent can live without painful medical intervention."
Humans view this as 'stagnation' or 'mere existence' and tend to flip rude gestures in the direction of the CRC in general and that definition in particular.
A Human's definition of "a good life" is very much in the opinion of the Human concerned. Where they draw the line on "a life cut too short" is also subjective, dependent on culture. For B'Nari, anything shorter than three centuries is "too young" to irrevocably expire without a backup copy. Over on the cruellest of Deregulations, "too young" is the age between helpless infancy and the age at which a citizen can be relied upon to perform repetitive and productive tasks for the CEO's greater good.
It's enough to make the administrative throngs of the Alliance throw their manipulating limbs up and surrender in regards to the entire confounding mess.
Attempts have been made to at least restrain Human self-sacrifice by means of legal qualifications. The attempt delineated that a Human was allowed to use their life to protect others if: they were fully-grown, they had no other alternatives, and had established some kind of legacy.
Naturally, Humanity as a whole took to these regulations like a frog to egyptology. They were, after all, a race naturally inclined to say, "Screw the rules, I'm doing things this way." They ignored the rules because, after all, what could the CRC do to them once they'd died for their allies?
They were right, after all, but nobody wanted any of them to realise that so powers-damned quickly.
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / ra2studio]
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