Deck 34: An Irrational Suicide

Question 1

Which one of (a) -(d) has been presented as a central reason for thinking that suicide is incomprehensible?

A) It is impossible to know what suicide means.
B) It is impossible to know what kind of experiences corpses have.
C) Nobody has adequate experience of being dead.
D) Desiring to die presupposes that being dead is always better than being alive.

Answer 1

Nobody has adequate experience of being dead.

Question 2

What is Varelius's reason for thinking that the comprehensibility of a person's committing suicide should be assessed from the viewpoint of the person herself?

A) Whether or not one commits suicide is always one's own decision.
B) Variation in temperament, personal history, and worldview can make people experience similar circumstances differently.
C) Others can be better informed about what is good for a suicide candidate.
D) None of the above.

Answer 2

Variation in temperament, personal history, and worldview can make people experience similar circumstances differently.

Question 3

What is Varelius's reason for thinking that being mentally disordered can provide one with more rather than less reason to end one's life?

A) Life with mental disorder cannot be worth living.
B) Mental disorder can make one's suffering worse for one than it would otherwise be.
C) Mental disorder makes one impulsive.
D) The suffering of a mentally disordered person is as significant as that of a healthy individual.

Answer 3

Mental disorder can make one's suffering worse for one than it would otherwise be.

Question 4

Which one of (a) -(d) has been presented as a central reason for thinking that suicide is unreasonable?

A) Suicide is not natural.
B) Suicide deprives one of life's goods.
C) Human life has inherent value that suicide destroys.
D) All of the above.

Question 5

In which of the following cases would committing suicide amount to pursuing a good by destroying its purported beneficiary?

A) When one would not know what it is like to be dead.
B) When a suicide candidate would think that he will continue to interact with others after his death.
C) In all suicide cases.
D) None of the above.

Question 6

What are the central reasons for thinking that suicide is incomprehensible? On what grounds Varelius rejects the reasons? Are the considerations he presents plausible? Why or why not?

Question 7

What are the central grounds for thinking that suicide is unreasonable? What are Varelius's reasons for rejecting the grounds? Are the considerations he presents plausible? Why or why not?