Suicide or Not --REDUX-- ( I made the mistake of placing this in the Religion & Spirituality Category)?

Question

If a man walks out of his house, with the knowledge that, in is path is certain death, is this man commiting suicide?

Or is this possibly something more than just suicide.
Are the facts for his motivation; for leaving his house, more the subject to debate? Than that of the path he willingly took, knowing that it would lead to his certian death?

Suicide is defined as: Intentionally taking ones own life

Has the man commited suicide under this definition?

IF there were CONDITIONS and man "A", ( lets call him joe) left his home with the knowledge that later that day he would die. and by knowing this he still commences his routine, has he intentionally taken his own life?

Or is it man B ( lets call him Bob) who leaves his inhabitance knowing that he will soon face death ( for he is a soldier in a war) but goes about his daily routine with knowledge of his inevitable death?

Wats the diff between Joe and Bob? and is it that, the concept of suicide is in the details?

Yes, Joe Knows He will die. GOd told em so...kinda

Actually He is Psychic

Humor me

OKay in Attempt to clairfy,

Joe is a Psychic that just saw his death. He knows how and when he will die nothing futher is left to chance its the theroy of causation into play.

Bob on the other hand is @ the mercy of chance, but unlike Joe is under the theory of Uncertianity. When he sighed up for his posistion as a foot soldier, he did so knowing that he will be in the middle of a bloody war, and possibly embarking on the path that held the eventual demise of his self

ANd i hate the Limiations On Characters To Work With

Answer 1

Does Joe actually know he'll die? If he could prevent his death that day by staying home (and is able to), yet intentionally leaves the house regardless, I'd call that suicide. This is only true if Joe is absolutely positive he'll die if he leaves the house. There has to be not even the slightest chance that Joe could both leave the house and live beyond that day; otherwise, it's not suicide.

Bob's situation is different, from what I can tell, because he doesn't actually know he's going to die that day. If he's just a soldier in a war, then there's definitely a great possibility. However, from the information given, it doesn't seem that Bob actually knows for certain, and the act of leaving is therefore not suicide.

Edit: Ok, after reading your updates, I've come to a different conclusion.

Joe's case didn't involve suicide, because he had no choice in the matter, as you put it. He was doomed either way, and was fated to die regardless of his actions. You definited suicide as "intentionally taking one's own life." If Joe couldn't choose to keep his life, then he certainly couldn't choose to take it, either.

Bob's case is tricky, and comes down to the likelihood of death in his situation. If he went into the war knowing the odds were greatly stacked against him, one might call that suicide to an extent. If he underestimated the upcoming danger involved, then the situation couldn't realistically be seen as suicide. If the odds were ridiculously stacked against him, then this situation might be likened to someone walking into a room of flying bullets. A room with one gun aimed in a particular direction and firing at equal intervals is quite different from a room in which guns are being fired unpredictably in numerous directions.

Answer 2

I am not sure I'm getting everything you are saying, but here goes... If "joe" leaves ,knowing that he will face certain death, but the death cannot be avoided as he will eventually leave his home, and the death is not by his own "hand", but rather the unstoppable, it is not sucide, in my mind. There is the possibility that "joe" may have the "hope" that he is mistaken, or that his faith is so strong, he is not worried about the outcome. The soldier, is the same, really. He certain to face death, but there is the chance he could be wrong as well, and leaves it to God. That is what it sounds like it comes down to anyway. Do WE really know when we are going to die, or do we think we know? Only Gog knows for sure, besides we are all dying, one day at a time....

Answer 3

How can Bob and Joe know he would die? He can only believed he would die...

The fine line is if he struggle to avoid death even in a war it is not a suicide.

Answer 4

This is a good question. I believe it is in the details. If i join the military and I know I am going to the front line. Well I am going to die. But it is not suicide because the reasons are not selfish. If I was planning on killing myself because I could no longer find a reason to live, it is suicide and selfish. I am not helping others by committing suicide.

Answer 5

Joe is living his life day to day. so if he knows he will die he is just continuing his life.i do not know how he knows he is going to die,but i believe if it is your time to die no matter where you are on this earth you will die. no one can change his end of his life.

bob had singed up to fight for his country. it does not mean he will die. there is always the possibility he could die.but i have many uncles and cousins that have and are now fighting in wars and they did not die.

i do not consider either one of these suicide. there is no difference in the two. i believe that suicide is when you take a knife or gun or any other tool and take your own life. neither one of these men did that.

lets say there is Fred,guy c, and he has terminal cancer. he decides not to continue his treatments because they are not helping and they are making him feel worse. so he wants to live his last days on earth with his family with no treatments. do you consider that suicide?

Answer 6

I wouldn't say Bob committed suicide, because death isn't certain in a case like war. And, even if it were, I still would say it's all in the details.

Answer 7

subject to debate