Q&A 2, Answer

My question is: If one’s level of sentience determines where one falls on the sliding scale of moral value, how morally valuable are children?

I am honestly not certain as of yet.  Initially, I agreed with Brian that the high level of moral value we place on children is a reflection of sentiment rather than any inherent value held by the children themselves.  However, upon reflection, I realised that since moral value is not solely dependent upon rational capability on top of a baseline of sentience, this may not be true.  Children, on average, cannot reason as effectively as most adults, but they often possess greater creative capabilities, and are able to learn many things at a much faster rate.  This makes determining their place on the sliding scale much more difficult, at the least.

Furthermore, children possess other kinds of value which may increase their moral value.  They are often more indirectly valuable, since the sentiment adult humans attach to children is frequently greater than that which they attach to other adults.  They are also evolutionarily valuable, and while evolutionary value does not translate directly into ethics, the two often end up intermingled.

As such, I am still unsure where children fall on the sliding scale.  I would greatly appreciate any thoughts on the matter!