Hume's On Suicide: Is Suicide Always A Criminal Act

In “On suicide” Hume examines whether suicide is always a criminal act. Hume states that “if suicide is a criminal act it must be transgression of our duty either to God, our neighbor or ourselves” (Hume, p.1). According to Hume, suicide is not always a transgression against God, our neighbor and ourselves, therefore suicide is sometimes permissible. A defender of impermissibility would argue that while Hume’s argument is valid it is not sound. After critically examining each premise one will find that Hume’s argument for the permissibility of specific cases of suicide is both sound and valid.
Hume’s states that if suicide is always a criminal act it must be an offence to our “duty to God” (Hume, p.1). Hume addresses two main issues in relation to this point. The first point addresses fundamental laws, the second is the idea of naturalism. According to Hume there are no laws that specifically refer to the permissibility of suicide. God is all knowing, all
4). He specifically points out that there are many situations where if an individual were to continue living they would be a burden to the society. Their death actually constitute a positive effect. Assisted suicide is a topical issue in contemporary Canadian society. It presents itself as a strong example in the case of someone who is terminally ill. From a resource perspective continuing to receive medical treatments to delay the inevitable , death, is a burden on the society. Medical resources are costly and limited. A terminally ill patients family also continues to suffer as the individuals medical condition deteriorates. The family must not only commit time and resources to their relative , but the suffering also takes an emotional and mental toll. Society and the patients family would be better off if the patients end is hastened. Suicide is therefore not always affront to ones