Whats wrong with Suicide?

Question

I'm a Philosophy, Cinema, Psychology student at NYU. Last semester my philosophy class was discussing the ethics of suicide. My class came to the conclusion that suicide is completely justifiable.

Your life belongs to you and not anyone/anything else. If a person is suffering physically or mentally, with no chance of improvement it alone would justify the cause of suicide.

I don't understand why suicide is still heavily frowned upon especially here in the United States. I can imagine a strong religious element, but that doesnt concern me at all as I dont believe in God, Jesus, Afterlife, Holy Spirit, Holy Ghost, ect. So why cant suffering people just go to the pharmacy - pick up some cyanide in a pill, take it while in bed and die peacefully instead of having to huddle in some motel leaving a mess by blowing their brains out with a shotgun? I certainly would take that option of suicide if it arises.

This, again, is from an agnostic/humanist standpoint.

Answer 1

i guess that people see it being wrong because it is like taking the easy way out. then people are sad and depressed because they think that they should have been able to help you with your problem. i feel like i understand why someone may commit suicide. i just think that most people just feel that it is morally wrong to commit suicide so that's why its wrong.

Answer 2

Wow...that's pretty heavy. Well since the age of 12 I was extremely depressed attempted suicide numerous times. But now I am loving life and soo glad that none of my attempts worked. You're (people) obviously in a lot of pain if they're wanting to take their own life. If I had actually succeeded in commiting suicide I would'nt ever have met the people I know today, done the things I've done, experienced love etc, and that's hard to think about. I can't even believe that I felt that way...I kept journals while I was going through my rough patch and reading what I was thinking/feeling back then is insane. It wasn't me and I also know a lot of other people who I never thought would get out of the mental/suicide state they were in for so long and now they're going on to become Dr's and Artisits. And how/when do you know when there's no chance of improvement? It takes time to re-program your brain and change the way you think. Wanting to commit suicide is sick. You are part of 2 people...the people that made you...your Mum and Dad. How are they gonna feel if you choose to kill yourself?? You've killed part of them too. So I think there's a lot wrong W/ suicide and this is coming from someone who's #1 priority was to acheive that goal!!

Answer 3

From a human rights piont of view; we have a right to die; it is our life.

It would be foolish though, to not think about the effect your having doing so...
**you will effect your family
**you will lose the chance to improve your life and live longer
**you may fail commit suicide and be in tremedous pain with brain damage and god knows what if you fail
**It may be a very painful death

But then of course, only the suicide patient can determin whether it is worth the risk to take thier life.
Trouble is that many people who take thier lives are mentally ill and need serious help; where if such chemical imbalances in thier brain was removed, they would be able to live and have a normal life - but still I would not force them to stay alive but offer them help and counsiling.

Some people we can almost garrentee are going to die; such people live in hospices in tremendous pain; and yes euthanasia I feel is a good way out, whether it is murder or not.

Answer 4

I too am a humanist, and I do believe it's a person's choice to eliminate themselves from this world if they so desire. I highly support voluntary euthanasia for cancer sufferers etc.

However, I have a bit of an issue with suicide from the standpoint of being selfish. Sure take yourself out, but when you have others relying on you to be there in life, that's being selfish and taking the easy way out. I was 17 and on the way to my high school formal (prom) when my friend's father killed himself. He had a wife, the 17 yr old daughter getting ready for the prom, 10 year old son, and 2 year old daughter and no terminal disease, they lived in a nice area, the children went to private schools, he had a great job, a nice family. Maybe he had mental issues, but the effect on the remaining family was horrible to say the least.

For whatever reason he took himself out the the equation and left 3 kids without a father. To this day, they think they weren't good enough for him to live for. Very sad really. Apart from terminal cancer, I think all problems can be sorted out, so he was selfish and weak to commit suicide.

Answer 5

I suffer with a severe case of bipolar disorder. I almost killed myself earlier this week. This time last year, I was in a mental institution for attempting to kill myself. My psychiatrist increased my meds and now I can see the reasons for living. I'm sitting outside with my laptop now and I love to hear the crickets and owls. I love to feel the wind blowing. My dog is here beside me. He's old, but I love him. My husband and kids are in the house. I got to take my kids to a birthday party today. I will get to drink coffee with my husband in the morning. If I had been given a cyanide pill earlier this week, I wouldn't have any of this. There is no chance of improvement for my disorder. My doctor tells me that without my meds, it will only progress. But- I will always love life, even when I can't see that I do.

Answer 6

You do have a point. However, not every problem leads to suicide. You can always find a better answer. In today's society, there are so many people who are not physically or mentally handicaped, but they still commit suicide....for the WRONG reason. That's why those suicides effected our community and are frowned upon. Death is not your only option.

Answer 7

Maybe, just perhaps your class was only looking at the point from the viewpoint of the person committing the act of suicide. Was there any discussion regarding the point of view of those whom the suicide affected. Suicide is a very selfish act. Think about it from the other side.

Answer 8

Ok, my brother in law commited suicide 2 years ago. So what you are saying is it is ok for him to leave 4 children w/o a father and a wife with a husband?? My wife (his sister) weeps everynight almost over her big brother, my mother in law (his mother) also lives with us and cries on a regular basis?? Now about you, you are looking at suicide as "oh well kill yourself to feel better huh? Typical selfishness of a non-believer. Do you not realize the selfishness in suicide? Also do you not know that anyone who commits suicide it damned to hell for eternity??

Answer 9

Suicide is for the weak. There is NOTHING in this life that justifies taking your own life for. It is a total waste & so selfish words can't even describe. What about the person that has to find you dead, what about the people you leave behind & this is just to mention a couple of things. They will forever think it was their fault or that they could have done something to help you. & as for the person who has to find you, they may not ever recover from having to see something like that. There are SO MANY support groups & help lines & places to go if you need help or even just to talk. It is totally inexcusible.

Answer 10

Its a selfish thing to do to your family. If they have a Mantle or physical disability they should at-least try to have some type of therapy to try to help with they disability. And if that doesn't help i guess since its there life and they have the right to live life the way they would like. They could commit suicide but i still think its wrong and a selfish thing to do.

Answer 11

Okay, you may agree with it, but just the thought of someone taking thier own lifr is scary. Of course it's looked down apon! Do you think it would be okay if we just let people kill themselves whenever they want without much question?
And, if I could just walk into a pharmacy and pick up cyanide, I would be dead bynow. So would my mom and youngest sister.