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David Hume On Suicide Analysis

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In “Of Suicide” by David Hume, Hume examines and discusses the beliefs on suicide. Many religions and the government are against the act of suicide. Although many do not believe in suicide, Hume and many others believe that suicide is not criminal and should not be looked down upon.
Hume believes that we all have a choice and if suicide is your choice it should not be criminal or looked down upon. According to Hume, there are several reasons why suicide is acceptable. Men who choose to commit suicide is typically one who is “tired of life, and hunted by pain and misery” (Hume 22); finally, one “bravely overcomes all the natural terrors of death and makes his escape from this cruel scene” (Hume 22). Hume believes that those who commit suicide have a reason to do so. They have lived a rough life and have no escape. Eventually bravery sets in and they take their own life and leave the misery they live in.
Another reason that Hume thinks suicide should not be looked down …show more content…

In the Grounding of the Metaphysic of Morals, Kant discusses the categorical imperative. The categorical imperative is the belief that we should all act according to the maxim or according to the law of nature. Our actions are important and must be decided appropriately based on morality. Kant has many beliefs within the categorical imperatives some of these include “thou shalt honor contracts, thou shalt not commit suicide, [and] thou shalt not overindulge in food and drink” (xi). Kant believes that even if suicide may lead the person to happiness, it is still unethical and unmoral to commit suicide. Another concept in Kant’s Grounding of the Metaphysic of Morals is perfect duty. Perfect duties as those that are not flexible; there are no exceptions of these duties. According to Kant, “Not committing suicide is an example of a perfect duty to oneself” (30). There are no exceptions to allow a person to commit suicide and it should never

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