Altruistic Suicide: Clarifying Duty in Altruistic Suicide
Suicide itself in modern western culture already has social stigmas associated with it. In fact, much of our culture has already formed preconceived notions of what suicide is, why it's performed and the internal reasons it occurs(e.g. Depression). Although parts of this may be true, Altruistic Suicide particularly contradicts with normal connotations society associates with suicide linked to depression(e.g. anomic suicide), due to its selfless nature. Granted that cases of Altruistic suicide can be selfless, other cases are martyrdom-based suicides(e.g. obligatory suicide) and it’s crucial that there is a distinction and to understand what the distinction is. Specifically, that is
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Through analysis of the previous two articles, a particular part of Leenaars et al.(2004) research is fundamental to understanding what the individual is in obligation to. They state, “What is central, as in all suicides, is the attachment, not to people per se,but as Zilboorg (1936) had shown, the attachment (identification) (Freud, 1917/1974) can be to any ideal—freedom being one.” (p.134). Implying that their duty is to an ideal, not a person, place or thing, but a belief they feel obligated to champion. This in the context of Obligatory Suicide, is distinguishing yet another subsection, claiming that attachment to a person, king, or god is not fully the obligation in which the individual commits suicide over. Instead, arguing this attachment or duty, that causes the suicide, is an attachment to an ideal such as, freedom, utopias, world peace or religious beliefs. In the context of Optional Altruistic Suicide, this would mean that the individual lacks this obligation to this attachment, therefore not meeting the specific criteria for Obligatory Altruistic Suicide. Not only do individuals who commit Optional Altruistic Suicide not have an obligation to an attachment as a differentiating criteria, but another key difference is Optional Suicide is supported in specific situations by the society around the individual, unlike …show more content…
Not only, would more data give both us and society a firmer understanding of Altruistic Suicide, but surely more subcategories would form underneath Altruistic Suicide subcategories themselves. Furthermore, this is even more of a reason to try to apprehend this topic, by having analytical exploration of its subjects. Below, an important takeaway from this analysis is listed. Being the stigma around martyrdom, along with understanding of “suicide bombers” and terrorism is a realm that some in the field of psychology choose to study, but not the vast majority. In reality, it appears to still be a socially taboo subject, halted by certain influences of western xenophobia, chauvinism,religious bias and presuppositions. Ultimately, Altruistic suicides are a prevalent form of suicide found in many cultures, not as an occurrence but a tradition. Therefore the continuation of unbiased empirical based evidence that not only clarifies, but distinguishes differences and informs of these differences is necessary. Not just for proper research, but to gain proper understanding to formulate prevention
Durkheim’s concept of social integration refers to social groups with well-defined values, traditions, norms, and goals. These groups will differ in the degree to which individuals are part of the collective body, also to the extent to which the group is emphasized over the individual, and lastly the level to which the group is unified versus fragmented. Durkheim believed that two types of suicide, Egoistic and Altruistic, could stem from social integration. Egoistic suicide resulted from too little social integration. Those people who were not sufficiently bound to a social group would be left with little or no social support in times of crisis. This caused them to commit suicide more often. An example Durkheim discovered was that of unmarried people, especially males, who, with less to connect them to stable social groups, committed suicide at higher rates than married people. Altruistic suicide is a result of too much integration. It occurs at the opposite end of the social integration scale as egoistic suicide. Self sacrifice appears to be the driving force, where people are so involved with a social group that they lose sight of themselves and become more willing to take one for the team, even if this causes them to die. The most common cases of altruistic suicide occur to soldiers during times of war. Religious cults have also been a major source of altruistic suicide.
According to Durkheim, two types of suicide arise from the different levels social integration. One cause of suicide is extremely low social integration, which is referred to as egoistic suicide. Durkheim argues that this is the case because others give the individual’s life meaning, so without this support from the group the person may feel hopeless (Conley 188). The other type of suicide, altruistic suicide, reflects the opposite situation: when an individual is too socially integrated (Conley 189). This type of suicide occurs when members of a group or community become so totally engrossed by the group tha...
One constant between all cultures is the understanding that all lives will come to an end. Throughout one’s lifetime, virtue, character, and morality are sought, through different ideals and methods, with the overall endgame being the most ethical and desirable outcome possible. There are times, however, when an individual may feel like there is no hope of reaching a successful existence; therefore the act of suicide becomes a viable option. The decision to voluntarily take one’s life has always been a topic of discussion on ethical grounds. Whether or not the decision to die is an ethical one can be argued depending on from which ethical theory the act is being evaluated.
World health Organization (WHO) (2011). Facts and figures, Suicide. Retrieved November 2, 2011 from http://www.WHO.int
In a study released by Brown University, their psychology department shed some light on common myths and facts surrounded suicide. These m...
Individuals in society experience many changes that can make them feel overwhelm or feel accepted by their friends, family members and the rest of society. But there is times when people feel that they do not fit or feel welcome in their social group. Many people face their difficulties and achieve success others are do not have such luck. The individuals that are not lucky finishes their life committing suicide. Suicide is an act of taking one’s own life voluntarily and intentionally that affects not only immediate family and friends but indicates factors in society that are influencing individuals to commit this act. Is important to understand what aspects in society are making individuals to take their own live? And if
Suicide is a sad story many people are reluctant to approach. But when somebody nearest to them kills themselves, they feel the compelling guilt of trying to understand the motive behind the death. It is a complex and rather devastating subject. Many who kill themselves can never come back to tell us what happened and why it did. Suicide takes an emotional toll on it's survivors and wreck havoc in the wake of the surrounding victims. What causes suicide is a probing series of many theories, and yet not one definitive answer. The prevention of suicide is also difficult to pinpoint, but only because the intent is unknown. The importance of researching the motives of the suicidal is essential to modern humanity as a whole, because in the era we live in, suicide rates are climbing faster than ever. Understanding the driving force behind suicide is what can help the field of social science to save the conscience mind of many people from self-destruction - and save their lives, and the emotions of their loved ones.
Durkheim identified four causes of suicide: egoism, altruism, anomie and fatalism. Key to all of these was the focus on integration and regulation. Egoistic suicides occurred with low integration, altruistic with excessive; anomic suicides with low regulation, and fatalistic with excessive. He distinguishes between the ‘pre-modern’ suicides – altruism and fatalism, and the ‘modern’ suicides – egoism and anomie. The transition, he claims, from pre- to modern society has led to individualism, through greater social and economic mobility, and urbanisation. This personal autonomy has led to lesser...
The concept of suicide has always been the controversial debate topic among the philosophers. Since the birth of Christianity in Western world, committing a suicide is generally accepted as the act of immorality and the transgression of our duty toward God. By mid-16th century, David Hume, a Scottish philosopher, questions this traditional duty-based ethic of suicide. As he
Theories of suicide have contributed to understand the stress of social issues than on biological factors like psychological for the cause of suicide. He found suicide is the results of social disorganization and the lack of social integration. Durkheim found and theories different types of suicide. Anomic suicide, enforces society standards that causes a person to feel lost or alone. With a lack of social directions and restrains social ethics contributes to the isolations felt. Egoistic suicide is the consequences of social bonds and linked to anomic disappointment. Egoistic suicide, a person feels detached from society by roles, family dynamics and relationships. Egoistic see no goal to accomplish therefore, feels useless and without purpose. The isolation felt because a person does not belong to a group for support and therefore, commit suicide. Egoistic and altruistic suicide, is the consequences of integration within the society Altruist, commits beyond the World and the obstacles and burden. Fatalistic suicide block and passion oppressive and makes, a person feel like an indentured servant. The customs and traditions of society is instrumental in death and the mode of suicidal act. Each theories work to clarify the social context when the problems occurred.
Chelsea & Astra The author of this book Chelsea and Astra is Mary Hooper. The setting of the story is mainly at the high school and sometimes back at the Astra’s house. In this story there are 2 young teenage girls Chelsea and Astra, they are best friends that do everything together. Even though they both had different likes and dislikes they get on so well.
Suicide, may be said to happen, if and only if, there is an intentional end of someone's life. The doctrine converses that we should never break off anyone’s life, including ours, because life is internally estimable that we should cherish. Therefore chances of that the act, suicide, violating this concept depends on whether a life worthwhile or not. So how do we define a worthwhile life? There is no satisfactory answer. It is ponderable that fragile at best because in moments of despair, nothing seems worthwhile and a Prozac later, everything may be all right again.
Another complication in analysing causes of suicide is the variation between cases. Some will be clearly planned events, with finances and family situations adjusted beforehand, notes written. Others will be on the spur of the moment, with difficulty establishing whether it was deliberate or accidental. Some will be violent, immediate acts whilst others will be drawn out affairs with low lethality (dependent on availablilty of help). Most importantly, some individuals will not succeed – or chillingly, not at first. One of the greatest predictors for completed suicide is attempted previous suici...
Fatalistic suicide is the total opposite of altruistic suicide. Fatalistic suicide takes place when there is excessive regulation. Durkheim takes into account, the likelihood that "persons with futures pitilessly blocked and passions violently choked by oppressive discipline" may not see any way out. The person sees no potential way in which their lives can be better, and when in a condition of depression, may have a propensity for committing fatalistic suicide.
Every living human being has ties with their own family, friends, neighbours and God, ending one’s own life will breaks those relations that one has. The catechism of the church says that “Suicide contradicts the natural inclination of the human being to preserve and perpetuate [their own] life. It is gravely contrary to the just love of self […] It unjustly breaks the ties of solidarity with family, nation […] others to which [one] continue to have obligations […] it is contrary to love for the living God.” (C.C. 2281) Therefore, life should be valued by each person, suicide shows others and God, t...