...Applied Philosophy,Suicide Intervention and Non-Ideal Kantian Theory Vol. 19, No. 3, 2002 245 Suicide Intervention and Non-Ideal Kantian Theory MICHAEL J. CHOLBI Philosophical discussions of the morality of suicide have tended to focus on its justifiability from an agent’s point of view rather than on the justifiability of attempts by others to intervene so as to prevent it. This paper addresses questions of suicide intervention within a broadly Kantian perspective. In such a perspective, a chief task is to determine the motives underlying most suicidal behaviour. Kant wrongly characterizes this motive as one of self-love or the pursuit of happiness. Psychiatric and scientific evidence suggests that suicide is instead motivated by a nihilistic disenchantment with the possibility of happiness which, at its apex, results in the loss of the individual’s conception of her practical identity. Because of this, methods of intervention that appeal to agents’ happiness, while morally benign, will prove ineffective in forestalling suicide. At the same time, more aggressive methods violate the Kantian concern for autonomy. This apparent dilemma can be resolved by seeing suicide intervention as an action undertaken in non-ideal circumstances, where otherwise unjustified manipulation, coercion, or paternalism are morally permitted. 1. The chances are good that each of us will some day confront a person close to us contemplating suicide. Every year in the...
Words: 8969 - Pages: 36
...one of the risky stages in life wherein many changes and developments occur in the body and the life of an individual. These changes create doubts, incomprehension and change their ideals. As a teen, one is very much conscious on what others would react on his/her appearance down to how she acts. Unfortunately, this also gives insecurities to teenagers that lead to deep unconscious behaviour and attitude where one may have a violent reaction towards depression. According to Dr. Fabio Piccini, a Jungian psychotherapist, everyone experiences much stress from messages suggesting everyone, especially teenagers, how they should they look, behave, and be fashionable. Teenagers are all deeply influenced, consciously or unconsciously, by the mass media. This is especially normal and unavoidable at the phase of life as a teenager. Thus values change and move on to what society proposes as ideals. No one can avoid this, but one must understand these kinds of behaviours to avoid unnecessary argument between the other people and the teenager. based on studies, teens have a bigger risk on committing suicide based on their mental disorders such as conduct disorder, avoidant personality disorder, mathematics disorder, reading disorder, disorder of written expression, nightmare disorder, general anxiety disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, factious disorder, as well as numerous other disorders that has been caused commonly by stress, pressure, and depression. A foundation called “TeenScreen”...
Words: 1247 - Pages: 5
... Serena is an 82-year old woman who lives in her north inner city Dublin home with her husband Dan. They have four sons who now have families of their own but are all supportive and are still very much present in their lives. Her only sister, Blair, lives in a nearby county but visits her twice a week. Her relationship with her family is identified as her main support system. Serena is known to the psychiatric services due to her long history of Bipolar Affective Disorder and previous suicide attempts, resulting to numerous psychiatric admissions. She was on lithium for approximately 18 years, which now resulted for her thyroid to become toxic and her kidneys to completely stop functioning. She has been recently diagnosed of End Stage Renal Failure (ESRF). This recent diagnosis has left her more anxious and depressed. As her family and the Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) from the POA unit had worrying concerns regarding her increasing inability to cope at home and recent suicide attempt, they have decided to refer her to Golden Living Centre (GLC) for respite. GLC is a nursing home where I did my 8-week specialist placement. The CMHT from the POA unit visits Serena on a weekly basis ensuring continuity of care. The community mental health nurse (CMHN) comes in to the nursing...
Words: 2697 - Pages: 11
...REFLECTIVE PIECE She stood motionless by her window, staring at the stars that contrasted her life. One of misery and loneliness. The night-time, chilly air synchronized with her mood, she had become cold, rhythm-less, sharp her words……. What words? For they all remained unspoken. She had given up the prospect of light, happiness, prosperity, ...
Words: 1855 - Pages: 8
...There are many social problems that teenagers go through. The most recognised problems are teenage drinking and driving, and teen suicide. These two social behaviours teenagers go through are the leading causes of teenage death. Alcohol, the most widely used and abused drug among youth, causes serious and potentially life-threatening problems for this population. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers. Society faces several questions, like why do teens drink, what are the results of teen drinking and driving, and how can society change this pattern. Every year hundreds of teens die. Apart from drinking and driving, teen suicide is the fastest growing killer of youth and if left unaddressed it will affect are future generations. Why do teenagers drink alcohol? Peers play the major role in shaping attitudes about alcohol use. Prior to this time, television and movies played the most influential role. The attitudes of parents toward alcohol correlated strongly with the attitudes of their children. There are several reasons why teenagers give to drinking alcohol which include recreation, rebellion, relieve depression, fatigue, and boredom. Many of them have personal problems at home that make them turn to alcohol. Other reasons are a loved one passing away, fighting with parents, divorce, and separation of family. The main factor of teenage drinking is influence from their peers. Teenagers in our society are pressured into trying out...
Words: 1067 - Pages: 5
...There are many social problems that teenagers go through. The most recognised problems are teenage drinking and driving, and teen suicide. These two social behaviours teenagers go through are the leading causes of teenage death. Alcohol, the most widely used and abused drug among youth, causes serious and potentially life-threatening problems for this population. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers. Society faces several questions, like why do teens drink, what are the results of teen drinking and driving, and how can society change this pattern. Every year hundreds of teens die. Apart from drinking and driving, teen suicide is the fastest growing killer of youth and if left unaddressed it will affect are future generations. Why do teenagers drink alcohol? Peers play the major role in shaping attitudes about alcohol use. Prior to this time, television and movies played the most influential role. The attitudes of parents toward alcohol correlated strongly with the attitudes of their children. There are several reasons why teenagers give to drinking alcohol which include recreation, rebellion, relieve depression, fatigue, and boredom. Many of them have personal problems at home that make them turn to alcohol. Other reasons are a loved one passing away, fighting with parents, divorce, and separation of family. The main factor of teenage drinking is influence from their peers. Teenagers in our society are pressured into trying out...
Words: 1067 - Pages: 5
...Arguable the most controversial subject in human history is what truly defines the human species. Through the growth and evolution of the species, humans have displayed destructive behaviours within society that differentiates this genus from all others. Practiced by the unique act of genocide, humans have embraced a love for brutality against opposing social groups and the annihilation of fellow man. The institutions within the species’ society encompass unsurpassable expectations that have resulted in the self-destruction of millions. Humans have collectively destroyed the Earth’s natural resources through over use and depletion, making it impossible for the environment to remain sustainable; therefore, characterizing humans as the uniquely destructive species that they have come to exist as today. Genocide is a form of destruction unique to the human species that has been repeated throughout history as the yearning for power and the love of cruelty surpasses human controversies. “Genocide is often waged by one group against another and not the other way around. It is this unprovoked brutality that stems from human nature that is truly frightening” (Dimijan, 2010). This brutality was noticeably witnessed in World War II Germany during the Holocaust when Nazi leader Adolf Hitler exterminated more than 6 million Jewish men, women and children. The Nazis, who came to power in January 1933, believed that Germans were "racially superior" and that the Jews, deemed "inferior,"...
Words: 3028 - Pages: 13
.............................................................................................................................…...5. Symptoms………………………………………………………………………………….…6. Diagnosis….…………………………………………………………………………………. 7. Treatment……………………………………………………………………………………..7. Epidemiology of Depression in Youth……………………………………………………….9. Contextualised issues pertaining to Depression in Adolescence……………………………10. The impact of Culture on Adolescent Depression…………………………………………...10. Abnormal behaviours associated with Adolescent Depression….…………………………..11. Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………...11. References…………………………………………………………………………………...12. DEPRESSION IN ADOLESCENTS 3. This research paper will address depression in adolescents. Depression is often labelled as ‘the sickness of our time’ due to its prolific nature. Some of the causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of depression in adolescents as well as the contextualised issues, cultural implications and other abnormal behaviour associated with the disorder will be discussed. DEPRESSION IN ADOLESCENTS 4. Background of Depression in Adolescence Adolescence is the period of transition from childhood to adulthood, a stage of major growth and development in which significant physiological, cognitive, psychological and behavioural changes take place. Understandably then, adolescence is a time of excitement and of anxiety; of happiness and of troubles; of discovery and of bewilderment; and of breaks...
Words: 3461 - Pages: 14
... Suicide as a form of deviant behavior Introduction Deviant behavior is defined as any behavior or an act that goes against the established certain social norms in one specific society. As norms change in time, so does the description of deviant behavior. Deviant behavior as an element of social life is the subject of sociology and social psychology. The history of sociology of deviance is presented in a variety of monographs, textbooks and articles ( Ivanova E., 2014 ). However it is poor reflected in the history of Kyrgyz sociological studies of deviance as well as in the formation of Kyrgyz sociology of deviance. Sociology of deviant behavior and suicide behavior holds a strong position as a special theory of suicide within the structure of sociological knowledge (Problem of sociological research, pg. 1). Suicide can be seen as the ultimate deviant act. So it is important to know how it is measured in official statistics. According to the latest World Health Ranking data published in May 2014 Suicide Deaths in Kyrgyzstan reached 1.43% of total deaths. The age adjusted Death Rate ranks of Kyrgyzstan is 79th in the world (World Health Organization, 2015). This paper focuses on suicidal behaviour within the traditional society of Kyrgyzstan. According to established norms and values of traditional society the suicide attempt is extremely shameful and it is a form of deviant behaviour. The aim of this paper is to explore the...
Words: 2504 - Pages: 11
...have explained the suicide phenomena in different ways. For example, while positivists sought to achieve a scientific explanation of suicide, interpretivists sought to demolish it by focusing on the meaning of suicide to those involved and the meanings they attach to it. Durkheim used the positivists approach to explain the suicide phenomena. According to him, our behaviours are caused by social facts; norms and values that exercise a social constraint which surpasses an individual. He argues that suicide is a social fact. Using quantitative data from official statistics, Durkheim analysed the suicide rates for various European countries and noted four regular patterns. The suicide rate for any given society remained more or less constant over time. When the rates of suicide did change, they coincided with other changes for example; they fell during war times but rose during economic depression or prosperity. Different societies had different suicide rates. Within a society, the rates varied constantly between social groups for example; Catholics had lower rates that Protestants. He identified the two social facts that determined suicide as social integration; the extent to which an individual feels a sense of belonging to a group and obligation to its members and moral integration; the extent to which an individual’s actions and desires are kept in check by society’s norms and values. Therefore, Durkheim concluded that these patterns were evidence that suicide rates couldn’t simply...
Words: 1103 - Pages: 5
...details on her temperament as child that could have affected her position. Tara’s gender as a female is also a plausible factor as females at a younger age are more prone to exhibiting symptoms of depression for longer periods (Jack & Ali, 2010). From an psychological perspective Tara shared how as a child she would spend a lot of time alone in her room in what she described as her own fantasy land. Tara’s personality structure identifies itself with neurotic traits that present themselves in various patterns of behaviour whilst also influencing her patterns of cognition. Tara’s emotional development from the early age of nine displayed symptoms of depression as she cried all the time and almost weekly would attempt to commit suicide by jumping out of her window. A significant predisposing risk factor in suicide attempts is the comorbidity with depression, involving over half of all suicide attempts (Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy Suicidal Behaviour, 2014). Although in the interview Tara does not specifically talk about her own self-esteem or...
Words: 1571 - Pages: 7
...What is Depression? Depression is a medical illness that causes a constant feeling of hopelessness and lack of interest. Depression affects how the person feels, behaves and thinks. This can lead to emotional and physical problems. Typically, people with depression find it hard to go about their day-to-day activities, and may also feel that life is not worth living. However, depression is not uniform. Signs and symptoms may be experienced by some sufferers and not by others. How severe the symptoms are, and how long they last depends on the individual person and their illness. Warning signs include symptoms such as: constant feeling of sadness, anxiety, and emptiness , a general feeling of pessimism, feelings of restlessness or hopelessness, loss of interest in activities, low energy or fatigue, disturbed sleep patterns, and in extreme cases suicidal thoughts. Many people are ashamed to ask for help because they are afraid of what other people might think. However, depression is a common illness for which there are many treatments. Types of Depression There are many different types of depression. Events in your life can trigger some, while others are caused by chemical changes in your brain. A few examples include: Major Depression, in which you feel depressed most of the time for most days of the week. Bipolar depression, in which you have high and low extremes. During the low phase, patients have the symptoms of major depression, while in the high phase they exhibit mania...
Words: 1224 - Pages: 5
...Using material from Item A and elsewhere, assess the usefulness of different sociological approaches to suicide There are many different sociological views which approach suicide. Positivists think that suicide can be explained simply by looking at official statistics and there are distinct reasons for every suicide. Interpretists think that there is a reason behind every suicide and this can be found through qualitative studies. Realists think that there are further structural causes behind suicide. Each view is useful in explaining relationships between suicides however; none provide solid reasons behind it. Durkheim used suicide to show that a scientific sociology was possible. In Durkheim's view, our behaviour is asocial fact, social forces found in the structure of our society. Through the use of official statistics he studied facts that shape behaviours. Suicide rates for any society remained more or less constant over time, when rates changed they could be attributed to other factors. For example, the rates fell during wartime while they rose at times of economic depression and at times of rising prosperity. Different societies were seen to have different suicide rates and within society, different social groups had different suicide rates. Two factors, integration and regulation determine the type and level of suicide. Integration refers to the extent to which individuals experience a sense of belonging to a group and obligation to its members, whereas regulation is...
Words: 1040 - Pages: 5
...Understanding Society – SOSC 1850 Notes Lecture 1 Common Question Answers 1) Britain and US highest teenage pregnancy 2) 36% of US believe in Aliens 3) Suicides highest number of deaths 4) 60% of gun related were suicides 5) False not double stress of US that results in higher rates of suicide 6) Over 65 most suicides 7) Canada and Australia have highest kidnapping rates 8) Sweden highest rape rate 9) ¾ steal in office 10) False couples live tgt more satisfied 11) True, Womens brain are smaller 12) 11 women in legco 13) Plumber is a women 14) Margaret Thatcher did Chemistry for undergraduate Lecture 2 What is Sociology? - The big picture. * The group, culture, of organization, rather than the individual. Lots of people talk about society, but are they sociologists? No they are individualistic thinkers. They talk about individual people and cases instead of the group. Individualistic thinking at Universities: Professors award individual students with grades based on their ‘individual’ merits. What would the SOCIOLOGIST ask? Do some students have to work to earn money? Do some students have to spend time commuting to campus (no dorms!)? Do some students have family responsibilities.? Do some courses/majors have more generous grading procedures than others? Why are there more A students now than there were twenty years ago??? When and Why did sociological thinking begin? SOCRATES: “An unexamined life is not worth living...
Words: 5066 - Pages: 21
...Using material from Item A and elsewhere, assess the usefulness of different sociological approaches to suicide. Suicide can be defined as an intentional act of killing oneself, it is thought that the study of suicide would be more appropriate to be studied by psychologists since the main reason of suicide is the consequence of mental illness. However, a positivist sociologist, Emile Durkheim rejected this view. He believes that suicide has social causes and is a social fact that has predictable patterns. Nonetheless, this is a controversial topic and there are many other sociologists who have contributed to the study by offering their own points of view of how to categorising and interpreting data. We shall discuss their different approaches further in this essay. As it is said, Durkheim rejects the psychological theories of suicide; evidently he shows that while Jews had higher rates of mental illness than Protestants, they had lower suicide rates. In Durkheim’s view, our behaviour is constrained by social facts – according to Steven Lukes, they are greater and out of reach of individuals and they shape our behaviours. These social facts vary in different groups and societies, explaining the differences in suicide rate. There are two social facts that determine the rate of suicide: social integration, which is the extent to which individuals experience a sense of belonging to a group and obligation to its members. They feel a strong bond and duty towards others. The other...
Words: 2130 - Pages: 9
