At our last meeting, John McClain, Ph.D. presented the topic of suicide. The subsequent discussion was moderated by our program director, Don Emon, Ph.D. Dr. McClain took the approach of presenting a number of statements and comments on suicide made by various philosophers and writers of the past. These served as jumping off points from which to discuss the phenomenon.

Suicide is now the tenth most common cause of death in the USA. It was once the most common cause of death in Japan where Hara-kiri was carried out in cases of severe ‘loss of face’. The gun is the most commonly used method in the USA, being responsible for 54% of suicide deaths according to an article in the New England Journal of Medicine. Suicide is probably not significantly increased because of the gun but it is often the most convenient method. Hara-kiri in Japan was far more frequent and they used knives!

There are many ‘forms’ of suicide, or, we might say reasons or explanations. Psychological depression most frequently foreshadows a suicide and depression is a major element in many if not most cases. Women attempt suicide more commonly than men but men are successful more often than women. Suicide also is more frequent in the older age groups where serious diseases, painful states, limited ability to recover from injury and loss of mates often precede the decision to commit suicide. It was clear from the audience’s questions and responses that, while we value life, almost all persons want suicide as an option under certain dire circumstances.

Some of the remarks made about suicide by previous philosophers are as follows:

There is but one truly serious philosophical problem and that is suicide. Albert Camus in The Myth of Sisyphus.

St. Augustine wrote: whoever kills a human being, either himself or no matter who, falls within the meshes of the charge of murder. (City of God).

Thomas Aquinas wrote, in Summa Theologia: 1) contrary to a natural inclination, as well as against the [virtue of] charity (towards oneself) 2) if he kills himself he does harm to the community and 3) God alone has authority over life and death. A sin . against God (a sinful rejection of God’s gift).

David Hume: But suppose that it is no longer in my power to promote the interest of society; suppose that I am a burden to it; suppose that my life hinders some person from being much more useful to society: in such cases, my resignation of life must not only be innocent, but laudable. (Of Suicide)

Immanuel Kant: Suicide may violate: 1) a duty to God, deserting the post entrusted to one by God without being called off: 2) duties to others, as when a pregnant woman or a married person commits suicide, but 3), and mainly, man has a duty to himself to preserve his life.

Friedrich Nietzsche: 1) Many die too late, and a few die too early. The doctrine still sounds strange: ‘die at the right time!’ . My death I praise to you, the free death which comes to me because I want it. From Thus Spoke Zarathustra.

To die proudly when it is no longer possible to live proudly. Death freely chose From love of life, one should desire a different death: free, conscious, without accident, without ambush. From Twilight of the Idols.

The thought of suicide is a powerful comfort: it helps one through many a dreadful night. From Beyond Good and Evil.

You decide!