Syag
I’m really sorry, I dont understand what you are getting at with the glasses scenario.
As Ive pointed out halacha also recognises “contribution to society” though in very different ways than society at large, which is to be expected. See sources above.
R’ Moshe has a teshuva in chelek zayin CM (i dont know off hand what chelek CM it is or the exact teshuva number) where he discusses priorities in health care. He says when faced with 2 people the chayeh olam is tended to. Though if already working on a chaye shah, he cant be abandoned for the chayeh olam.
This is clearly giving a “dying old man warrants less medical priority,” (Obviously not nearly in the same way as the medical establishment)
“but it sure as heck says a lot about where he stands in his values as they correspond with the Torah”
Careful! You could be talking about R’ Moshe.
care to answer the question I posed above
“How would you choose? whoever is closer? whover fell in first? Male? Definitely going to survive? whoever owns the rope? whoever will live longer? whoever will do more mitzvos? The bigger talmud chacham Whoever will allow you to save more drowning people in the future? Some other criteria?”