Can Suicide Be Meaningful?

In this article, the author talks about a philosopher, Immanuel Kant's view on suicide. Kant's view on suicide is that people who commit suicide are the ones who failed to respect themselves, giving up their moral nature and their future potential and possibilities, just to end their physical or mental sufferings. The author says that in Kant's view, " each person has an intrinsic worth that is more valuable than any measure of happiness or sadness, benefit or harm." However, in Kant's later works, it is written that suicide can be a noble thing, as long as it is done when a person can no longer express his dignity in thought or action.

To me, Kant's view on suicide that only emphasizes dignity isn't so appropriate, even though it is based on a philosophical idea. Life and death of a person have a lot more than a matter of dignity, though it is very important to each person. In everyday lives, we get hundreds of different emotions, which all affects and brings out other feelings. Committing suicide can be seen cowardly, but it also can be seen as an exit to their freedom from their emotional pains. Humans know that death is a unavoidable future of life. And as humans, we emphasize our freedom and dignity, which also include choosing to live or die. I'm not saying committing a suicide is a right thing necessarily, but there is always a cause and a reason for it, which can't just be said it's not a right thing to do because it is denying the dignity of a human being. Suicide is a personal choice and we need to respect that.