Single Idea 4677

[catalogued under 25. Social Practice / F. Life Issues / 4. Suicide]

Full Idea

Were the disposal of human life so much the peculiar province of the Almighty that it were an encroachment on His right, for men to dispose of their own lives; it would be equally criminal to act for the preservation of life as for its destruction.

Gist of Idea

If suicide is wrong because only God disposes of our lives, it must also be wrong to save lives

Source

David Hume (On suicide [1775]), quoted by Jonathan Glover - Causing Death and Saving Lives §13

Book Reference

Glover,Jonathan: 'Causing Death and Saving Lives' [Penguin 1982], p.170


A Reaction

A characteristically wicked and neat point. Maybe we can intervene in the environment (diverting a falling stone), but not directly in a life? Life is sacred, but stones are not?