Does it take courage or cowardice to commit suicide?

[Rev. Rye]

Courage requires taking some action, even if said action is simply offing yourself. In fact, the ancient Stoic doctrine that people can withstand anything hinges on the possibility that suicide counts as withstanding.

Epictetus once said: “Remember that the door is open. Don’t be more cowardly than children, but just as they say, when the game is no longer fun for them, ‘I won’t play any more,’ you too, when things seem that way to you, say, ‘I won’t play any more,’ and leave, but if you remain, don’t complain.” (Discourses I.24.20)

“Has someone made smoke in the house? If it is moderate, I’ll stay. If too much, I exit. For you must always remember and hold fast to this, that the door is open.” (Discourses I.25.18)

I remember reading about Cleanthes, a Stoic philosopher who killed himself (by starvation) to rid himself of an ulcer. Given that he was apparently 99 years old, I suppose he thought he lived a full life. I also remember another who did the same because of a toothache, but maybe my memory is just fudging up the details on Cleanthes’ story.