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Single Idea 6188

[from 'Critique of Practical Reason' by Immanuel Kant, in 25. Social Practice / F. Life Issues / 4. Suicide ]

Full Idea

The maxim of freely disposing of my life could not hold as a universal law of nature, …because no one could choose to end his life, for such an arrangement could not constitute a permanent natural order.

Gist of Idea

A permanent natural order could not universalise a rule permitting suicide

Source

Immanuel Kant (Critique of Practical Reason [1788], I.1.1.I)

Book Reference

Kant,Immanuel: 'Critique of Practical Reason (Third edition)', ed/tr. Beck,Lewis White [Library of Liberal Arts 1993], p.45


A Reaction

This sort of claim brings out the advantanges of Aristotelian 'particularism' (expounded by Dancy). Obviously universal suicide isn't promising, but no one wants that. A few suicides in extreme cases will have no effect at all on the natural order.