Do we own our own lives? A discussion on the morality of suicide and voluntary slavery.

[Kirbmarc]

Most suicides happen due to mental illness illness -( in most cases meaning depression )- and a person whos judgement is blurred is "non compus mentis". therefor not intervening would be a failure to assist a person in danger and therefor irresponsible.

This is true, and indeed most suicides motivated by selfish reasons are due to some kind of mental illness. But what about a person who rationally decides to end his life even if his life isn't threatened by pain and suffering? What if, for example, you were rationally sure that your existence is a danger to others?

Let's say you are a carrier of a (hypothetical) disease that won't kill you, but that will infect anyone that comes in contact with you and will kill 25% of them. Would it be morally acceptable for you to commit suicide in order to spare countless others from probable death?

And what about suicide as a rational act of protest against a tyrannical regime (i.e. political martyrdom)?