An Argument Against Suicide, 7-29-2010

 I wrote a bit on suicide, and particularly David Hume's essay On Suicide. Hume advocated suicide when a person became a burden to others. I have also written that that American culture does not have an analogy to the Japanese seppuku. I propose another argument against suicide.

I propose we do have a duty to others where suicide is only limited to limited cases and only when explained by the decedent. Hume used the criterion of a burden, and I think the concept has its uses still.

Suicide impacts the lives of others. I found myself with an unexpected conundrum shortly after my arrest: one of my step-sons threatened suicide shortly after my arrest, I was still seeking means of committing suicide in the place of my detention, and I had to consider the impact of my suicide on the boy. If a rule exists against suicide (and remember Hume argued there was no such thing), then that rule must derive from a duty not to inflict to not inflict unnecessary pain on others, Those others will blame themselves for a suicide even if no fault truly exits.

Suicide should not occur except in situations where no repair to the injuries caused by the decedent can be accomplished, or where the decedent will cause more harm to others by continuing with their life. How many situations exist without any hope of temporal reform? I think mine is one, but I am enduring my continued existence for the sake of not injuring others. 

I think suicides should explain to the living the reason they chose death. I saw myself putting the car in the garage, going upstairs for my Irish whiskey and some paper. Now, I wonder how much I could have written before the carbon monoxide got to me. On the other hand, have written too much now?

So, suicide when it will not hurt anyone unnecessarily and with a note. My only argument against suicide.

sch

[I cannot find the note about seppuku. I recall it, and so assume it is one of the lost notes. As for what else I have written about suicide, there are the main articles from my pretrial period The World's Longest Suicide Note (Part 3) 5/3/2010, The World's Longest Suicide Note (Part 4) 5/3/2010, and The World's Longest Suicide Note (Part 5) 5/3/2010. Since my release from prison I wrote , Depression & Suicide. sch 2/20/23.]