Szasz On Suicide

Philosopher Thomas Szasz goes further, arguing that suicide is the most basic right of all. If freedom is self-ownership - ownership over one's life and body - then the right to end that life is the most fundamental right of all. The belief that death by one`s own hand is always an option and frequently more honorable than a life of protracted misery is held by Stoics. Stoicism accepts that suicide was permissible for the wise in circumstances that may have prevented leading a virtuous life. The common denominator in the previously mentioned organizations is the concurrence that although death may be the most effective method of escaping suffering, whether suicide is the best way is certainly questionable. Florida State University psychologist

In considering people`s motives for killing themselves, it is essential to recognize that most suicides are driven by a flash flood of strong emotions, not rational, philosophical thoughts in which the pros and cons are evaluated critically; Alaska was obviously not in a stable state of mind due to her intense emotions and intoxication. Step one is defined as falling short of standards. Statistically, suicide rates are higher in nation with higher standards of living. Such idealistic conditions heighten suicide risk considering the creation of unreasonable standards for personal happiness. Step two is attributions to self. For a suicide to occur, it is seen as a necessary for one to loathe themselves for facing the troubles they find themselves in. For example, Alaska mercilessly accepts complete blame for her mother’s death. Alaska demonizes herself in response to negative turn of events. Feelings of worthlessness, shame, guilt, and inadequacy leads suicidal people to dislike themselves in a manner that, essentially, cleaves those who are suicidal from an idealized humanity. The self is seen as being enduringly undesirable; there being no hope for change with the core self being perceived as

Seemingly needless to say, suicides tend to be preceded by a period of negative emotions. “Y’all smoke to enjoy it, I smoke to die” (Green 44). Alaska constantly mentions her discontent for life, again foreshadowing her intentional crash. The appeal of suicide is loss of consciousness, and thus the end of psychological pain being experienced. Those who are suicidal generally only see three escapes from painful self-awareness: drugs - for Alaska cigarettes and alcohol, sleep and death. And of these, only death, nature`s great anesthesia, offers a permanent fix. Step five of the escape theory - cognitive deconstruction - is perhaps most intriguing. Step five illustrates just how distinct and scarily inaccessible the suicidal mind is from that of our everyday cognition. Pudge repeatedly expresses his dislike for Alaska`s intentional vagueness and air of mystery, yet another sign of her eventual suicide. For those with suicidal thoughts, the present seems endless and vaguely unpleasant and struggle to visualize the future. The failure to think beyond is seen as a defense mechanism helping the person to cognitively withdraw from thinking about past failures and the anxiety of an intolerable, hopeless