Comparing Kant, Aristotle, And Cicero's Four Theories Of Suicide

Suicide is the act of intentionally ending one’s own life for the sake of ending one’s own life. Philosophers such as Kant, Aristotle, and Cicero have various perspectives on suicide. These ideas center around whether suicide is unethical all other things being equal, or prima facie unethical. Out of the four theories of suicide I currently have knowledge on, I agree with Aristotle’s point the most. While I concur with Cicero’s idea that ending one’s own life is all right if it is completely impossible that she could be happy, the impact that the action has on one’s friends and family is more drastic than the individual could have imagined. I am going to argue this idea by explaining the stigmas and sadness that surround suicide as well as discuss the ethics of life and death. …show more content…
Cicero thought that there was nothing prima facie unethical about intentionally causing one’s own death. He believed that suicide was permissible in circumstances where somebody used her knowledge and free will to make a decision because it would not be possible for her to live a worthwhile existence. Kant felt that self-murder was treating one’s future self simply as a means because a person has duties to those around them and themselves. Ending your life is not respectful to your aspirations and limits your freedom to explore what life has to offer. He did not believe that suicide was prima facie ethical. Aristotle also thought that suicide was prima facie unethical. He stated that it is wrong because it causes harm and violates our duties to members of our community. Most of the great minds that I have learned about in ethics or history courses did not believe that suicide was an acceptable act. Most of the rationale based on these assertions is based on the effects death has on the cherished ones of the