This groundbreaking book is the first collection to investigate together the law, political science and philosophical perspectives on the right and value of life. Its contributions are organized around five themes: a theoretical positioning of life and death; war, armed conflict and detention; death as punishment; medical parameters for ending life; and, medical policies for the preservation of life. The essays, written by an international roster of scholars, seek to engage with the evolution of the law, political discourse and philosophy on the right to life and the value of life in an attempt to understand its contemporary orientations within the selected multi-jurisdictional flora and interdisciplinary contexts. In studying this issue in its contemporary contexts of "right" and "value", the volume fills the current scholarly lacuna in the general subject of the orientations of life. Moreover, it holds broad appeal for scholars, researchers, and students occupied with issues of war, armed conflict, the death penalty, and various contemporary medico-legal scenarios. "The Right to Life and the Value of Life" presents a much-needed examination of key issues in a broad practical and theoretical context.