Why is suicide considered a selfish/cowardly act?

Answer 1

I don't entirely consider it to be, keep in mind before even reading the rest of this I've been suicidal before, my fiance to some extents still is very much so and I've known many people who killed themselves or attempted to. I'll attempt to answer this clearly but sometimes I see too many viewpoints and the arguement gets a little distorted; simply put first, I don't think it's selfish or cowardly...also for the deration of this explanation I'm using "you" in a general, impersonal sense and not trying to insult you, as the asker of the question, or anyone else in particular.

Would you blame someone for trying to live their life the way they want, as long as it wasn't *directly* and intentionally hurting anyone else? (hopefully your answer to that is no...otherwise this may be a 'deaf-mute arguement.') Death is a part of life, death is natural, just because you fear it or don't want it for a loved one gives you no right to dictate your fear onto them. Also yes, it will inevitably hurt someone, but the person wasn't doing it FOR that effect, that would be like hating anyone who ever hurt you as a side-effect of their greater purpose through some other course of action.

Also, who's to say it's cowardly? that would be different to every individual, some fear life; and yes they'll seak to die but probably not so much from fear as from dissatisfaction. Some fear death, does that mean that, by living, THEY are being cowardly?

as far as selfish, that arguement always struck the wrong chords with me. It would be selfish maybe to expect your friends to understand right away and to accept it, but in the end, isn't it at least equally selfish of a person's friends to expect them to keep in on living when they're in pain? either way someone's getting hurt, and who's hurt worse? The person who feels like they're merely existing and seeking death, or the friends who would have to live with the consequences of letting their friend go?

This sounds kinda cryptic....I know no other way to say it though, my last friend to kill themselves (as of yet) did so a few months ago, and he had talked to me beforehand....it was a long conversation and the intent changed because I hadn't reacted the way he initially thought I would, but basically he was asking me to accept his choice. supposedly he figured that out of all his friends I would be the one to understand that he wasn't truly free, to understand his need to be and that he needed to do just this one thing for himself. he had tried to get help, he'd tried to help himself, and concluded that he couldn't.....he was being as selfless as he knew how to be, in even pleading with me to begin with....he left saying he'd think about everything, and there wasn't all that much I could do. But after I stopped any self-pity/victimazation BS, I realized he was happiest then, when he knew what he wanted to do and knew that he could do, knew that I wouldn't hate him for it; we were somewhere close to best friends...and I dont' mean this in the overly cliche "his spirits free now" way, I mean he truly was happy with letting his life go, with realising himself into his next life....he also thought his living was a burden to others, we tried to change his view on that,but he persisted in thinking so. would a selfish person worrying about that every day of his life? feel a desperation to leave right away but still try to reassure those he cared about?


I also think we have too many prejuidices about life and death and what happens after both to really say....you know, that's like saying what if someone's deathly ill in a hospitol and they arent' necessarily attempting to die, but they stop trying to live.are they selfish too? is it selfish to risk your life to save someone else? I just don't understand how dying under any circumstance can truly be selifsh, don't mistake my intentions though, dying as in....self. NOT killing. that's entirely different.
anyway yeah, hope that makes sense....
very worthwhile question by the way.

Answer 2

Sometimes i think well its selfish of other people to want you to stick around with so much pain. Suicide hurts those that you leave behind. I would say suicide is a window out and the pain seemingly wants to push you out it. Suicide does ruin the chance of ever knowing what it is like to be happy. I would not call it cowardly. I say that if someone can fight for as long as they can is pretty strong. After a few attempts myself I realize that suicide would not just take away the pain but everything else. Getting meds and being able to connect with someone is important. Like they all say suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

Answer 3

because when you choose to end your own pain by suicide you are choosing to ignore the consequences that it will have on those still living. the pain and guilt and confusion that you may be causing your loved ones and friends is what makes it selfish. that you do not reach out for help and walk through the pain that is causing your suicidal thoughts is what makes it cowardly. the suicidal person cannot/ does not want to see that life is full of ups and downs and if they hold on and reach out to people that can help (suicide hotlines) they can come through the pain. they can end up stronger and happier than before.

Answer 4

Suicide is considered a cowardly act b/c you are wimping out of the situation, and not dealing with it appropriately!

I have no idea what some people's religious beliefs are, but I as a Christian Baptist was taught suicide was wrong because, the souls of those who committed such acts would be sent to hell.

Answer 5

Suicide leaves behind survivors who cared and loved the one committing the act. To not consider those who care about you is in definition- selfish. And I can't see anything more cowardly than escaping pain and suffering all together, to let those around you survive without your comfort and presence, alone.

Answer 6

It is selfish because whether or not you are thinking about the people you leave behind, when you kill yourself, everyone els is left to pick up the pieces. It is cowardly because you are running away from the problems and pains of life instead of facing them and dealing with them. I am not judging people who take their lives. I have been close to doing this myself, but the above reasons are what kept me from doing it. My father killed himself when i was 5 and I really wish he had stuck around and we could have gotten him some help.

Answer 7

I think it's a permanent solution to a temporary problem. There may be an element of selfishness in it for some people, but I think for most it's a matter of hopelessness--they don't see any other way out of what they see as an unending nightmare.

Answer 8

it a way to guilt someone from doing something like suicide. anyways if you or anyone have thoughts of suicide then i recommend you go to a therapist/ hypnotist so they can help you relieve you of some past experience that may have lead to someones current experience to suicide snf help redirect your life into a more alive experience.

Answer 9

simple because there are people in this world who are fighting to stay alive through a terrible illness and if you ever see someone dieing in front of your eyes and fighting to stay alive,then you will understand suicide is wrong and selfish