The Debate on Suicide

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 puts it: “…though death alone can put a full period to his misery, he dare not…a vain fear left he offend his Maker” (On Suicide, p.55). On his famous paper “On Suicide”, he defends the act of suicide and concludes that suicide is at least sometimes permissible. This paper will examine the essay itself in depth and counter argues about his view since the commitment of suicide deprives us from the future possibilities.

The ultimate goal of Hume’s essay is to “restore men to their native liberty, by examining all the common arguments against Suicide, and showing that that action may be free from imputation of guilt or blame” (On Suicide, p.55). He argues that people’s confusion about the morality of suicide is based on the “superstition being found on false opinion” (On Suicide, p.55) and can only be gone “when true philosophy has inspired juster sentiments of superior powers” (On Suicide, p.55). He states that “if suicide be criminal, it must be a transgression of our duty either to God, our neighbor, or ourselves” (On Suicide, p.55).

In most theological argument about the suicide, it argues that altering the length of one’s natural life is impious to God. As Socrates puts it:” the gods are our keepers, and we men are one of their possessions... we must not put an end to ourselves until God sends some compulsion like the one we are now facing” (Phaedo, 62a). In...

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...have shown more clearly when suicide is best for us. The future possibilities are reserved only for those who live but not for those who die.

In conclusion, Hume’s argument about the permissibility of suicide has not provided sufficient reasons to believe that suicide is fair. Every life is full of potentials and thus worth living for. There still remains the question as to whether the continuous life is an absolute good or an absolute evil. However, it is still better to take that chance than to die now with one’s own hands.

Works Cited

Thomas Nagel, “Death” in Jackman (ed), Phil 1100: The meaning of Life CourseKit, York University 2013, pp33-36

David Hume, “On Suicide” in Jackman (ed), Phil 1100: The meaning of Life, CourseKit, York University 2013, pp55-58

Plato, "Phaedo"in Gallop, Phaedo translated with an introduction and notes, Trent University 1975, 62a