Final answer:
The question about the inherent value of humans from conception to death is more of a philosophical and ethical debate than a matter of correct or incorrect answer. Philosophers have long argued the criteria for personhood and the rights that come with it, often influencing perspectives on issues such as abortion and moral status.
Step-by-step explanation:
The assertion that humans have value beginning at conception and continuing through death is a complex moral and philosophical question rather than a statement with a straightforward true or false answer. This involves debates around when personhood begins and the rights associated with it. Philosophers like Aristotle believed in the potentiality of beings, with the human embryo containing the essential identity of the human being. Immanuel Kant, on the other hand, believed that our dignity lies in our capacity for rationality, which would develop over time.
The question then arises, is a human embryo, child, or person with diminished rational capacity any less valuable? Many argue that human value is not predicated on the level of rational functioning but is inherent by virtue of being human. This perspective is often used to argue against practices such as abortion, suggesting that even potential persons should be granted the right to life. The debate includes various factors like the right to bodily autonomy and the conflict of rights between the pregnant person and the fetus or unborn child.