David Hume On Suicide Analysis

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In On Suicide, David Hume presents several premises to argue towards the fact that suicide should be permissible in certain situations. Hume in his essay argues that suicide should be permissible as long as it does not transgress one’s duties towards God, his neighbours and lastly himself. This critical essay will analyze Hume’s arguments and present justifications that Hume’s arguments were sound, it would also provide counterarguments to any response that a defender of the impermissibility of suicide may present.
Hume starts by considering if committing suicide would transgress one’s duties towards God. Hume states “If Suicide be criminal, it must be a transgression of our duty either to God, our neighbour, or ourselves” (Hume, p.1).. Hume starts his argument with the fact that God has provided us with free will and the ability to do what we wish with our lives. Hume then proceeds to explain that it would be presumptuous to think that a human life holds greater importance than any other and if the life span of a human being is pre-determined by God wouldn’t taking one’s life be equally sinful as extending their lifespan? Hume explains that “ If I turn aside a stone which is falling upon my head, I disturb the course the course of nature, and I invade the peculiar providence of the Almighty by lengthening out my life”( Hume, p.2), from this Hume explains …show more content…

Hume believes that “no man ever threw away life, while it was worth keeping” (Hume, p.4), us humans are motivated by how we can extend our lifespan and most of us are scared of dying. According to Hume human beings do not consider suicide based on temporary setbacks but only when life for that person has become so miserable that he/she cannot carry the burden anymore. Situations like these are the ones that Hume considers when we would not be violating our duties to ourselves by committing

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