Resource Tag: PHILOSOPHY

This article interprets Foucault’s life-long involvement with transgressive experiences as an art of not being oneself, an effort to escape identity & become other. By bringing together Foucault’s own theoretical practices with those drawn from Deleuze & Blanchot, & linking these with biographical material, the author shows how Foucault’s `encounters’ with passion & pleasure in […]

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This paper examines an apparent tension in the account of capital punishment offered by Hegel in his “Philosophy of Right.” The current author argues that certain crimes, including murder, necessarily require capital punishment because they constitute total negations of right, & so are themselves a form of suicide according to the philosophy of Hegel. Hegel’s […]

The philosopher Camus ends his essay on suicide with a reinterpretation of the myth of Sisyphys. The current author argues that the values embodied in Camus’ mythic imagery persent a vision of life which is neither theistic nor nihilistic, & thus Camus overcomes both modes of thought. The coherence of Camus’ alternative vision depends on […]

This essay aims to explain Kierkegaard’s often repeated claim that the objective thinker is a suicide. The current author reads this to mean that chronic objectivity requires the chronic supression of self-concern, which is the only thing that can give continuity to humn existence. Where there is no-continuity, there is no life; hence, the suicide […]

In a philosophical exploration of the concept of freedom, the theory of choice behind self-consious annihilation, or suicide, is questioned, since, in the words of the author, “Suicide is mostly resorted to because Life has not measured up to expectations. It is not resorted to as a ‘free choice’ but only as a choice that […]

The author considers R Dworkin’s argument in “The Philosopher’s Brief on Assisted Suicide,” which claims that the distinction between killing & letting die is morally irrelevant, & the distinction between intending & foreseeing death can be morally relevant but is not always so. The author argues that the killing/letting die distinction can be relevant in […]

This encyclopedia entry discusses the history of self-killing & of the use of the term “suicide” to understand this type of behavior. Historical attitudes towards suicide, biblical suicide, & mass suicide are among the topics discussed. The statistical & sociological study of suicide originating in the late nineteenth century is explored, & key thinkers in […]

The author attempts to illuminate Spinzoa’s treatment of selfhood as it pertains to the possibility of self-destruction. The author argues that Spinzoa’s conception of human essence as necessarily self-affirming is implausible because suicide is a sign of an internal weakness in the face of a hostile world. Thus, the author contends that Spinzoa cannot make […]

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The reviewer finds this book to be a diverse & challenging array of 23 serious, careful essays, which all contribute to the enrichment & broadening of its readers’ views on the topic of physician-assisted suicide & euthanasia. A brief summary of each of the essays, their strengths & weaknesess, is presented to demonstrate the diversity […]

This article presents Spinoza’s views of the cause & cure of death. He holds death to be disruption of mind/body which need not involve becoming a corpse; amnesia counts. He also asserts that suicide is irrational & fear of death is to be overcome by realization that since adequate ideas are eternal, to the extent […]

This chapter presents the 13th, 14th, & 15th letters from Theocles to Euphranor. Lindamour’s defence of suicide is examined & rebutted. The author asserts that on the basis of a soul’s nature (self-preservation) it is proven that suicide is impermissible if one assumes that their soul is destroyed when they die. Other naturalist arguments are […]

This chapter presents the ninth letter from Euphranor to Theocles. Several philosophical principles that may justify suicide are discussed. Principles relating to religion & natural law are included. The arguments of Lindamour & Blount are summarized. The author concludes by stating that he cannot free himself from this conundrum & is uncertain whether suicide can […]

The author of this article argues that many theists object to suicide on the ground that God alone is entitled to determine the moment of our death. Many philosophers, he claims, believe that this theistic objection to suicide was decisively refuted by David Hume in his essay “Of Suicide.” He then goes on to argue […]

This chapter discusses the philosophical tenets presented by Schopenhauer regarding death & suicide. Schopenhauer’s theory of palingenesis which asserts that death must be viewed as the disintegration & reconstitution of the individual is summarized. The concept of the will as the dominant feature of individuals is presented. The philosopher’s argument that ‘suicide is opposed to […]

This chapter analyzes the philosophical conundrum that evaluating suicide as morally worthy or unworthy is conditional upon a definition of suicide that has moral assertions inherent in it (such as the notion that self-murder implies immoral action). Issues relating to the definition of suicide & the use of a definition in moral evaluation of individual […]

This review of the field of suicidology is divided into three main sections (etiology, prevention, & social implications) & is organized around the different disciplines involved. (40 refs)

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The author examines the debate over whether or not one has a right to physician-assisted suicide in light of the conflict it causes between claims of individual liberty, personal autonomy & self determination versus preservation of life as a societal value. In this context, he examines the case against suicide, the difference between suicide & […]

The article depicts Kant’s view of suicide through a thorough comparison with that of the stoics. The latter held suicide to be morally licit in some circumstances because of their functional conception of human dignity & worth. Kant developed his own view in conscious interaction with stoic precedents, with which he was familiar, but eventually […]