Deck 33: Suicide and Its Discontents

Question 1

David Hume considers the possibility that suicide violates a duty to

A) God.
B) One's neighbor.
C) Oneself.
D) All of the above.

Answer 1

All of the above.

Question 2

Reed argues that Hume's defense of suicide commits Hume to the view that

A) God prefers that you commit suicide.
B) No action could violate a duty to God.
C) God cares too much about human beings.
D) Suicide is permissible only for atheists.

Answer 2

No action could violate a duty to God.

Question 3

The idea that human persons are autonomous individuals who have the liberty to exercise their values and live out their personal conception of happiness was a common view during the time of

A) Aristotle.
B) Aquinas.
C) The Declaration of Independence.
D) All of the above.

Answer 3

The Declaration of Independence.

Question 4

Reed claims that cases of self-killing in the ancient world were

A) Commonly defended by philosophers.
B) Meant to relieve oneself of suffering.
C) Known to stem from mental illness.
D) D0ne for political or social purposes.

Question 5

Aristotle insists that human beings can only flourish if they

A) Have a meaningful community.
B) Have the liberty to do so.
C) Are smart enough to do so.
D) Commit suicide.

Question 6

Explain Hume's argument for the permissibility suicide and Reed's critique of this argument. How might one defend Hume against this attack? Do you think this defense would be satisfactory?

Question 7

What modern assumptions are central to the gradual western acceptance of the permissibility of suicide? Are these assumptions worth defending or should they be abandoned? Explain.