meritocrat

Well why SHOULDN'T a person take their own life?

You cite murder being illegal (as well as society's morals being opposed to it). The reason why society thinks murder is wrong is because it feels no one has the right to deny other's right to life.

So in that sense, what is the ethical rationale behind suicide being wrong?

Nowhere357

How does this differ from slavery?

meritocrat

What do you base this on? A person owns their own life; not 'the state'.

winstonjen

I know what you mean. "If you can't do the job right, we'll show you how it's done." Come on now.

It doesn't. People don't choose to be born, surely they have the right to die.

Harumi

So let me get this straight. If I should say that I wanted to commit suicide right now, would you just tell me, "Sure, you have a right to it?"

I think perhaps, the reason why suicide is discouraged is because of the damage it can cause to loved ones who may be greatly affected by it. Suicide may solve the individual's problems, but in some cases, it opens up a lot more problems for the individual's family members.

And I can say this from experience, that shortly after trying to OD, I was sitting in front of an officer who told me that suicide is illegal, so...

I guess it's already illegal.

Nowhere357

Absolutely not. Acknowledging that our lives are our own in no way implies that life is without meaning. Also, the worst time to make such a decision is during the depths of depression.

Your point about survivors is well made. I knew a young man who hung himself while depressed, and his mother, who he was not mad at, btw, found the body. Months later, she is still trying to recover. I think his action was cruel and selfish, but then I don't understand the pain he was feeling.

Harumi

Hmmm...perhaps that's why suicide is seen as wrong. Perhaps people fear that we would take life too lightly if it was 'okay' to try and kill yourself?

Nowhere357

But then the reason for the law is to send a message. As Autonemesis said, if you want to send a message, buy a telegram.

And we show we value life by ending intolerance and injustice. That's how I see it. So there is no good reason to take away our right to die.

Education and support are the ways to deal with social problems like suicide.

contracycle

Lol - it does not IMO.

contracycle

Yes and no. Yes, I agree with you, ideally. In practice, states can and have conscripted their citizens and sent them to die. And an individual who tries to refuse to serv miltarily can often be accused of cowardice and shot. So clearly, under certain circumstances the modern western state does arrogate to itself the right to assume control of an individuals life. For an individual to attempt to remove themselves from this duty to the state can be considered treason, as in the case of being unwulling to fight.

This makes me very unhappy, but that I understand is the basis for some laws that make suicide illegal. I do not support them.