Abstract
We live in an era in which human suffering seems unprecedented. War, disease, environmental degradation, political division, and economic instability all threaten contemporary life. While science and technology can identify the data points and causes of these distressing conditions, they cannot resolve any resultant feelings of despair that lead individuals to feel that life is no longer worth living. Consequently, suicide rates are rising; and it is now estimated that as many as 1 in 7 individuals will seriously consider performing suicide in their lifetime. My research looks to philosophy to resolve this crisis. The ancient Stoics identified the problem as tedium vitae, “tediousness of life,” and developed a philosophy to combat the malaise arising from life not going as we hope. The Roman Stoic, Seneca, tells of a time when he was so despondent that he considered suicide, but philosophy convinced him not to die. He says, “I owe philosophy my life; and my life is the least I owe it.” But how can Seneca’s Stoic philosophy be so powerful? In my study, I argue that Stoic philosophy provides a restorative and educative tool to help us live meaningful lives by teaching us how to bear things outside our control. Challenging my view is the recognition that Stoic philosophy is also permissive of suicide (even Seneca later committed suicide at Emperor Nero’s command). But I argue that Stoicism’s few permissible suicides are compatible with informing us how to live well, offering us hope for when life seems untenable.
Presenters
Anna ChristensenAssistant Professor of Philosophy, History, Anthropology, Religious Studies, & Philosophy (HARP), Central College, Iowa, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Philosophy, Suicide, Meaning of Life, Good Life, Stoic
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