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http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/happiness-in-world/201004/the-six-reasons-people-attempt-suicide

 

"Reason 5: They have a philosophical desire to die.

The decision to commit suicide for some is based on a reasoned decision .... These people aren't depressed, psychotic, maudlin, or crying out for help ... In my personal view, if such people are evaluated by a qualified professional who can reliably exclude the other possibilities for why suicide is desired, these people should be allowed to die at their own hands."

 

I don't know what to make of this. What if someone did not have a terminal illness but decided that they just did not want to continue living?

 

Would you be able to respect such a person's decision?

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Personal opinion - if someone is mentally competent and if they're evaluated properly so that we know there is no underlying cause that would make them change their mind, then I don't think the state or any other person has the right to tell them no. Of course, it's a very irrational decision to commit suicide, but do we really want to meddle in every irrational decision that someone wants to make? My views are somewhat libertarian in that I believe a lot in personal freedom in choices even if it's considered dangerous or irrational as long as you don't harm anyone else (which you don't in the case of suicide unless you consider emotional damage to your family, friends, etc). Again, I'm not condoning suicide or saying that there is any situation where suicide is "rational" - I actually think it's probably the most irrational decision an individual can make in almost any situation. I'm just saying that people should have the freedom to make irrational decisions without society telling them otherwise. If they want to end their life because they've thought it through and they don't care about living - that's their decision to make. 

 

I don't know if taking this position is a good idea in an interview situation (I really don't know, not implying that it isn't) but  that's just what I think.

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http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/happiness-in-world/201004/the-six-reasons-people-attempt-suicide

 

"Reason 5: They have a philosophical desire to die.

The decision to commit suicide for some is based on a reasoned decision .... These people aren't depressed, psychotic, maudlin, or crying out for help ... In my personal view, if such people are evaluated by a qualified professional who can reliably exclude the other possibilities for why suicide is desired, these people should be allowed to die at their own hands."

 

I don't know what to make of this. What if someone did not have a terminal illness but decided that they just did not want to continue living?

 

Would you be able to respect such a person's decision?

 

just to expand it a bit - is it relevant if you don't respect their decision? There are a lot of decisions that people make that I don't respect - in a free and open society people still have the right to make those decisions.

 

I wouldn't always say that suicide is irrational either for that matter. There are many rational philosophical systems that lead to suicide as a logical outcome in many normally occurring scenarios - even those without painful terminal outcomes from disease etc.  To flip it the other way around - is it always logical to maximally extend the normal aging process even if it is none painful to its maximal conclusion? Tough questions really.

 

Pretty head questions of course - that rarely come up either. Kind of an academic debate mostly :)

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just to expand it a bit - is it relevant if you don't respect their decision? There are a lot of decisions that people make that I don't respect - in a free and open society people still have the right to make those decisions.

 

I wouldn't always say that suicide is irrational either for that matter. There are many rational philosophical systems that lead to suicide as a logical outcome in many normally occurring scenarios - even those without painful terminal outcomes from disease etc.  To flip it the other way around - is it always logical to maximally extend the normal aging process even if it is none painful to its maximal conclusion? Tough questions really.

 

Pretty head questions of course - that rarely come up either. Kind of an academic debate mostly :)

 

In your opinion, do you think that it is appropriate to take a personal freedom stance if such a question is asked during an interview? 

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