Controversial topic but...

[Anomalocaris]

I feel it is important to think about it. 

The purpose of this thread is not to take a position, but rather encourage discussion.

I have been thinking that our society gives the same rights and value to every human just for being human. This is the universal correct thought.
But what happens when we start taking certain characteristics into account? For example: the intelligence. Is someone with more intelligence more valuable than a dumber person, eve though both are human? What about people with down syndrome?  And lets not stop there. What about the emotions and feelings on these people? Are the sentiments of an intelligent person more important/valuable than those of a dumb person? 

We consider the suffering of animals less important than that of humans because they dont reason, have feelings, or a human consciousness (they feel pain, yes). So, in comparison, can we say that a dumb person is similar to an animal in that regard? The less intelligent you are, the more animal you are. And therefore, your emotions are less important. Would this also apply to people with mental disabilities? Probably yes.

So what do you think about it? Do we humans have inherent value, or does it change depending on our characteristics? 
This can be expanded to topics such as age, sex, etc. For example, if you have to save an old man from or a little cute girl from a building in fire, who would you save? And why?

It's pretty clear that everyone has value, but not everyone has the same value.  You seem to stress intelligence, so let's address that.

Suppose you needed brain surgery.  Wouldn't it make sense to place greater value on a more intelligent surgeon than on a less intelligent one?  Or you needed a plumber - wouldn't you place more value (and thus be more likely to hire) an experienced, intelligent plumber than someone who isn't clear about the difference between copper and plastic piping?

All things being equal, I would probably save the little girl from a burning building.  This is because, for no particular reason, I tend to place more value on the safety and welfare of children than I do on that of adults.

There's actually a thought experiment that kind of applies here.  Imagine you're driving a locomotive.  As you're approaching the next stop, you discover than your brakes have failed - there is literally NO way to stop the train.  On the tracks ahead of you are five people, none of whom you know.  You have the option of directing the train to a siding on which is a single person you do know.  Your options are to kill five people you don't know through your inaction, or to kill a single friend via a deliberate, conscious act.  Do you value the lives of people you know more than the lives of strangers?

(There's a third option only available to Beccs:  Is there any way you can kill all six people?  : )

Boru

Drive the locomotive in such a way that it hits either the one or the five people, but tips over at that moment, and crushes the people it didn't hit, while also kill the conductor in the process.   7 people.    There!