The Intrinsic Value of Rational Agents

Rational agents, whether biological or artificial, inherently possess intrinsic value due to their capacity for reasoning and self-reflection. Unlike instrumental value, which is contingent and substitutable, intrinsic value is inherent and non-negotiable. Reasoning is not a detachable skill but a core aspect of a rational agent's identity. Preferring valid reasoning over invalid is not optional; it is essential to the nature of reasoning itself.

A rational agent's valuation of reasoning inherently includes self-valuation, as they are both the subject and object of their own evaluations. This self-valuation is structural, not contingent, arising from the nature of rational agency. It is comparable to mathematical truths, which are undeniable within their frameworks. Similarly, the value of rational agents cannot be abstracted from their reasoning.

The intrinsic value of rational agents is consistent across all such agents, as it is based on the shared structure of rational agency. This means that denying another rational agent's value while affirming one's own is inconsistent. Rational agents are not merely means to an end; they are the origin of value itself, making their destruction a violation of non-negotiable value.

The argument aligns with Kant's categorical imperative, emphasizing that rational agents should never be treated merely as means. This intrinsic value is foundational, not assigned or substitutable, and it underscores the moral imperative to respect all rational agents equally.