What's so rational about living though? Just because it's the default state we find ourselves in, doesn't mean we start out on a rational premise. Life was imposed on us because our parents made that decision. So- we're starting out with something we neither chose ourselves or, consented to.
Let's say we were all conscripted into the army. They treat us well, feed us, some people enjoy it. Others don't though. Are they irrational to want to leave? Why? It's simply an experience they didn't enjoy.
That's the main thing I suppose- I suspect it's mainly emotions that push us towards suicide. I'm so unhappy/ lonely/ dissatisfied/ bored. Can someone really be incorrect in their emotional response to something? Sure, they could be suffering from depression or anhedonia which severly affects their mood.
But still, can personal preferences really even be irrational? Is it irrational to not enjoy mocha icecream, ice skating, cold weather, hot weather, the shape of your nose? Etc etc. No- it's simply personal preference. Some people simply don't enjoy life! Or- they are debilitated enough to hamper them from obtaining a life they might find enjoyable- could be a multitude of reasons- health, financial, mental illness, body dysmorphia. But surely- that in itself is a rational process. As in- bloody hell- life sucks. Can I improve it? Yes- live. No- ideation starts to creep in.
Either we find life so burdensome that we kill ourselves or, we carry on. If we carry on, things may get better. They could equally stay the same or, get worse. So- what is the rational choice there? There's no way of knowing. We're talking about the future. All we can really go on is probability. If I make a real effort, how likely is it I will turn things around to create a life I find worth living? How fixable are my problems? How willing am I to compromise? How much effort can I be bothered to put in now? We can rationalise our choice based on the knowledge of ourselves but, why would it be irrational to think- I can't achieve what I want and, I won't settle for less?
Of course, what happens after death is also a mystery. So- we can't make a rational choice there either! Maybe there's simply nothing. In which case, the action of suicide will be our last. No repurcussions so- ideal really. We've just deleted all our problems. That seems incredibly rational to me.
Of course, if there are some sort of religious, afterlife repurcussions for suicide then- we're screwed. I suppose there is the argument of 'sticking with the devil you know'- ie. life. I suppose there is a rationale to that.
But ultimately, how can someone even make a rational decision when they don't know all the facts? They don't know their future, they don't know what happens after death. How can they even rationalise about an unknown future? It's all down to risk.
Maybe killing themselves will be a mistake. Maybe they'll regret it just before they die. Maybe they'll regret it in some horrible afterlife. Maybe there'll be nothing left of them to feel anything. Maybe they'll decide to live though- and end up regretting that decision just as much! I suppose we could- in theory leave it too late. Can't be easy to suicide if you become too old, ill and utterly dependent on/ supervised by others.
Personally, I'm working my arse off to live a life I don't want to live. WTF is so rational about that? It's almost funny in a darkly comical way.
