Resource On the Rationality of Suicide (existentialgoof)

[TAW122]

Just recently, the big time pro-choice Redditor, existentialgoof (who is someone I also frequently reference in my articles as most of my views and ideas are very similar and alike to his), has just posted another incredible article on his blog, Schopenhauer on Mars. Here is the link to it,

On the Rationality of Suicide

All truth passes through three stages: First, it is ridiculed; second, it is violently opposed; and third, it is accepted as self-evident. – Arthur Schopenhauer ‘My Body, My Choice&#821…

schopenhaueronmars.com

He goes into great detail explaining the rationality of suicide and more importantly, denouncing the paternalistic suicide prevention policies and measures. Furthermore, he does delve into other points such as assisted dying and various things in society with relation to the right to die.

 

[Dante_]

I've always had a great amount of respect for him and his opinions, thank you for sharing this.

 

[zizzou]

Good read but the writing style was not my cup of tea.

 

[rs929]

I summarized the post with ChatGPT and it is funny because it started criticizing it automatically.
I think rational suicide is indeed a possibility, but I think many, many of us are not being indeed rational, but under the spell of depression or other mental illnesses, so we are not making a decision from a sound of mind perspective.

 

[username90493486]

This kind of posts make me doubt suicide is even justifiable at all, seeing the people attracted to the thought.

existentialgoof shouldn't be taken seriously at all. His positions are based on bad understanding of good and evil, often with contradictions and showing clear lack of idea what he talks about. He quotes philosophers and ideas he admits not having read.

This "debate" with him highlights a pretty good idea, so do the links here.

In general, any related philosophy would enormously benefit from dropping negative utilitarianism and just working over something else. No need to die in the shittiest hills.

https://plato.stanford.edu/ is a good place to learn, much better to quote than reddit posts for serious defenses. At least the people who write it have understanding of their topics.

 

[rs929]

This kind of posts make me doubt suicide is even justifiable at all, seeing the people attracted to the thought.

existentialgoof shouldn't be taken seriously at all. His positions are based on bad understanding of good and evil, often with contradictions and showing clear lack of idea what he talks about. He quotes philosophers and ideas he admits not having read.

This "debate" with him highlights a pretty good idea, so do the links here.

In general, any related philosophy would enormously benefit from dropping negative utilitarianism and just working over something else. No need to die in the shittiest hills.

https://plato.stanford.edu/ is a good place to learn, much better to quote than reddit posts for serious defenses. At least the people who write it have understanding of their topics.

So negative utilitarism is the idea that one must minimize the suffering as much as possible?

 

[username90493486]

So negative utilitarism is the idea that one must minimize the suffering as much as possible?

It's the idea that we ought to reduce suffering first, cause pleasure second. Usually the tiniest amount of annoyance invalidates any amount of good you can receive, so it gets wacky. There are many philosophies who want to reduce as much suffering as well, but have a better base to begin with.

 

[PI3.14]

I have so much respect for this guy, he articulates our position so well, something I'm thankful for.

 

[Nightfoot]

I summarized the post with ChatGPT and it is funny because it started criticizing it automatically.
I think rational suicide is indeed a possibility, but I think many, many of us are not being indeed rational, but under the spell of depression or other mental illnesses, so we are not making a decision from a sound of mind perspective.

If the depression or other mental illness is causing severe and persistent suffering that nothing else has alleviated, and all other available avenues for relief have been tried, could it be that the illness is irrational but the desire for relief is rational?

 

[rs929]

If the depression or other mental illness is causing severe and persistent suffering that nothing else has alleviated, and all other available avenues for relief have been tried, could it be that the illness is irrational but the desire for relief is rational?

It's a very difficult topic. If your mental illness has shown no relief for a long time and you've tried everything, then it's kind of rational to be out of hope. I think there should be available euthanasia for people that had, for example, 20 years of chronic severe depression and tried all treatments with no success.
But I think that in a lot of cases, the episodes are transitory and will eventually lift, even if people think they are not. I do endorse suicide prevention and support for those people, they are not thinking straight, as they can't see a light at the end of the tunnel but the light do exist, they just can't see it while they are ill.