Elements of Morals / With Special Application of the Moral Law to the Duties of the Individual and of Society and the State

by Paul Janet

CHAPTER XI.

DUTIES TOWARD ONE’S SELF—DUTIES RELATIVE TO THE BODY.

SUMMARY.

Have we duties toward ourselves?—The person of a man should not only be sacred to others, it also should be so to himself.

Even though man ceased to be in any relation with other men (as, for example, in a desert island), he would still have duties to perform.

The duty of self-preservation.—Suicide.—Arguments of Rousseau for and against suicide.

The different standpoints from which one may condemn suicide: 1, either as contrary to the duties toward men; 2, or to the duties toward God; 3, or, lastly, to the duties toward ourselves.

Kant’s fundamental argument against suicide:

“Man cannot abdicate his personality as long as he has duties to perform, which is the same as to say, as long as he lives.”

Case of conscience.—Not to confound suicide with self-sacrifice.