Suicide - Philosophical Concept | Alexandria
Suicide, a word heavy with sorrow and enigma, describes the act of intentionally ending one's own life; it is a choice that challenges our understanding of survival, purpose, and the very essence of human existence, often misunderstood as simply a matter of personal will or a tragic but simple event. Alternative framings, like "self-inflicted death," offer sterile objectivity, but fail to capture the complex interplay of suffering, desperation, and sometimes, a distorted sense of agency that drives this ultimate decision, inviting us to question the narratives we construct around such profound loss.
The earliest documented contemplations of suicide appear in ancient texts, such as the Egyptian "Dispute between a man and his Ba" (circa 2000 BCE), which explores the possibility of death as a release from suffering, subtly foreshadowing future debates on the value of life itself. Ancient Greek and Roman philosophers, from Plato to Seneca, grappled with the morality and rationality of suicide, often within the context of virtue ethics and political duty. Socrates' death, choosing hemlock over exile, epitomized a defiance against injustice, while figures like Cato the Younger became symbols of republican resistance, shaping a narrative of suicide as a political statement that resonated through the ages. The "great ideas" of Socrates, Kant, and Aristotle intersect here.
Over centuries, interpretations of suicide have undergone radical shifts, influenced by religious doctrines, philosophical movements, and evolving social attitudes. Christianity, initially ambivalent, later condemned suicide as a sin against God, a view that dominated Western thought for centuries. The Romantic era, however, saw a resurgence of interest in individual agency and the sublime, with literary works like Goethe's "The Sorrows of Young Werther" (1774) exploring the emotional turmoil that could lead to self-destruction, while also warning against the dangers of such choices. During this time many writers were intrigued by existentialism. 19th and 20th century thinkers like Emile Durkheim sought to understand suicide sociologically, identifying factors such as social integration and regulation. Albert Camus grappled with suicide as the pre-eminent philosophical question, the only matter not to be evaded. Contemporary discussions also involve analyses of moral luck and the responsibility paradox. The trolley problem may seem like a distant relation, but it has many elements of the tragic choice. Moral agency is also central to the conversation.
Suicide continues to be a shadow in our cultural landscape, both feared and, at times, romanticized, often misunderstood and stigmatized despite growing awareness of mental health issues. Reinterpretations grapple with the roles of autonomy, mental illness, and societal pressures in shaping an individual's decision. The exploration of suicide in literature, film, and art reflects its enduring mystique and the profound questions it raises about human existence. As we navigate the complexities of modern life, the question remains: How can we foster a society that values life? How do advances in cognitive science help? How can it provide more opportunity, and offer more compelling reasons to embrace it, and what role does existentialism play in the framing of suicide?