PHI LOS 0 P H Y . - Classic Works of Apologetics Online

Suicide. 259
propose many possible cases, even of murder, which,
if they were detached from· the f;eneral rule, anel
governed by their own particular c1)nsequences alone,
it would be no easy undertaking to prove criminal.
The true quest~onin the argument is no other
than this-May every man who chooses to destroy
his life, innocently do so ? Limit, and distinguish the
subject as you can, it will come at last to this question.
For, shan we say, that we are then only at lieerty
to commit suicide, when we find our continuance in
life become useless to mankind·? Anv cae, who
pleases, may make himself useless ; and melancholy
minds are prone to think themselves usele~s, when they
really are not so. Suppose a law were promulged, al ..
lowing each private person to destroy every man he
met, whose longer continuance in the world he judged
to be me/esl; who would not condemn the latitude
of such a rule? Who does not perceive that it amounts
to a perDlission to commit murder at pleasure? A sim ..
ilar rule, regulating the rights over our own iives,
would be capable of the same extension. Beside
which, no one is uJeless for the purpose of this plea,
but he who has lost every capadty and opportunity
of being usefui, together with the possibility of recovering
and degree of either: which is a state of such
complete destitution and despair, as connot, I believe,
be predicated of any man living.
Or rather, shall we say, that to depart voluntarily
out of life, is lawful to those alone, who leave none
to lament their death? If this consideration is to be
taken into the account at all, the subject of debate
will be, not whether there are any to sorrow for us,
llut whether their sorrow for our death \\?ill exceed
that which we should suffer by continuing to live.
Now this is a comparison of things so indeterminate in
their nature, capable of so difterent a judgment, and
eoncerning which the judgment will diff~r Sf') much,
according to the state of the spirits, or the prc~­
~ure of any present anxiety, that it would vary little
1'r1 hypochondriacal constitutions frO!l) aD unoualified
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