Morality of Suicide/Physician-Assisted Suicide 6KDQLFH0DVRQDQG&U\VWDO0DGUD\ 3URIHVVRU-DPHV'L*LRYDQQD(WKLFDO)RXQGDWLRQVRIWKH-XVW6RFLHW\3+,)<  Introduction Counter-argument Conclusion

Are there conditions under which suicide is 1. Hume believes that we do not contemplate suicide lightly. Some philosophers believe that suicide is morally justified, and if so, what are these We need to overcome fear and gain motive to commit morally improper because life should be valued conditions? There are two competing suicide, so it is not a transgression to ourselves. and suicide implies disobeying our duties to moral principles. One holds that it is wrong 2. Our duties to society are related to the benefits we receive, live life. Contrary to this belief, other to end a human life because everyone has a but we do not receive any benefits from society after we die; philosophers believe that we have the right to moral responsibility to live; the other holds therefore, we do not have any duty to society. make any decision concerning our bodies, that each person should have autonomy 3. It is not an insult to the value of life if one commits suicide. It especially if we want to stop suffering that may over their own body. may be protecting the lives or well-being of others (Kupfer, be caused by pain or terminal illness. The job 1990, pp. 73-74). of physicians is to decide whether or not to help their patient with their final request, and Argument 4. Peter Singer supports Hume by saying that the individual has a choice to live if they think their future is worth living for; if that is morally debatable.

it is not, then it is their decision. References 1. Kantian deontologists hold that human life is 5. People have an obligation to relieve the suffering of other inherently valuable and precious. humans and respect their beliefs and dignity. The person Andre, C., & Velasquez, M. (1987). Assisted 2. Suicide violates our moral duty to honor the wanting to commit suicide would carefully have to evaluate suicide: A right or a wrong? Issues in Ethics, value of human life, regardless of the value his or her life to see if it is worth living. 1(1). Retrieved November 19, 2015, from anyone places upon that life. 6. Those with painful terminal illnesses have a right to voluntary http://www.scu.edu/ethics/publications/iie/v1 3. Utilitarian views hold that suicide would be euthanasia (Glover, 1990, chs. 14–15; Singer, 1993, ch. 7). n1/suicide.html morally forbidden if the suicide leads to greater 7. Utilitarian views hold that we have a moral duty to maximize suffering, such as the grieving of family and happiness, and in the above cases an act of suicide will Glover, J. (1990). Causing death and saving friends. produce more happiness than if the individual were to lives. London: Penguin. 4. Kant argues that choosing to commit suicide remain alive. entails considering oneself as a means to an Hume, D. (1996). Essays on suicide and the end to escape pain, which is immoral because immortality of the soul: The complete 1783 we should not commit suicide to satisfy edition. J. Fieser (Ed.). (pp. 1-23). Infomotions. ourselves. 5. Hobbes claims that the natural law forbids Kant, I. (1996). The metaphysics of morals. M. every man "to do, that which is destructive of Gregor (Ed.). Cambridge, MA: Cambridge his life, or take away the means of preserving University Press. the same." (Leviathan, 1651). Kupfer, J. (1990). Suicide: Its nature and moral evaluation. Journal of Value Inquiry, 24(1): 67– 81.

Singer, P. (1993). Practical ethics (2nd ed.). Cambridge, MA: Cambridge University Press.

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