Erin Dyles

Date of Award

2012

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Humanities

First Advisor

Langston, Douglas

Keywords

Death: Martyrism, Self Sacrifice, Suicide

Area of Concentration

Philosophy

Abstract

There are two general ways of looking at death which correspond to our contradictory attitudes of fear and attraction to it: as the opposite of existence, and as a natural thread in our existence and a portal to the afterlife. Our historico-cultural views of the soul allow us to view death in this latter, more positive way, and reevaluate our treatment of certain death related issues. More specifically, a more positive view of death allows for more effective treatment of suicide patients, rather than dismissing them as irrational or psychotic, and devalues the impact of self-sacrifice, therefore, discouraging unnecessary cases. By endorsing a balanced principle of sacrifice which entails a responsibility to the self and to the other, I focus my ethical analyses of suicide and martyrdom on societal obligations and community roles, so that appropriate suicides are about keeping or not breaking obligations to others, and appropriate martyrdoms are about developing communities and excluding cases which might harm others. On the other hand, I also emphasize the community's obligation to the individual, both in respecting the decision to commit suicide when appropriate and in developing communities that don't require the death of martyrs for the sake of their improvement.

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

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