History of suicide

History of Suicide

The history of suicide is a complex and multifaceted subject that spans across cultures, epochs, and disciplines. Suicide, the act of intentionally causing one's own death, has been interpreted in various ways throughout history, reflecting broader societal attitudes towards life, death, and the afterlife.

Ancient Civilizations

In ancient civilizations, attitudes towards suicide varied significantly. In Ancient Egypt, suicide was generally considered an affront to the gods, with few exceptions made for instances such as self-immolation by pharaohs. Conversely, in Ancient Greece, the perspective on suicide was more nuanced. Philosophers like Socrates and Plato debated the morality of suicide, with Socrates opposing it and Plato offering a more conditional stance. The city-state of Athens had laws against suicide, yet the act was sometimes seen as honorable if it avoided shame or dishonor.

The Roman Empire inherited much of the Greek ambivalence towards suicide. While early Roman law did not penalize suicide, attitudes shifted over time, especially with the influence of Stoicism, which sometimes regarded suicide as a rational choice under certain circumstances. Notable figures such as Seneca the Younger and Cato the Younger ended their own lives, and their deaths were often seen in the context of honor and political resistance.

Middle Ages

The Middle Ages saw a significant shift in the perception of suicide, largely due to the influence of the Christian Church. Suicide was condemned as a sin against God, a violation of the commandment "Thou shalt not kill." This period marked the beginning of legal and social sanctions against suicide, including the denial of Christian burial rites and the confiscation of the suicide's property.

Renaissance to Enlightenment

During the Renaissance, attitudes towards suicide began to change, influenced by humanism and the reevaluation of classical texts. However, it was during the Enlightenment that a more systematic critique of the traditional condemnation of suicide emerged. Philosophers such as David Hume and Voltaire challenged the religious and moral grounds on which suicide was condemned, arguing for a more compassionate and understanding approach to the subject.

19th to 20th Century

The 19th and 20th centuries saw the medicalization of suicide, with the act increasingly being viewed through the lens of mental illness and pathology. The work of Émile Durkheim, who published Le Suicide in 1897, was seminal in this shift. Durkheim's sociological study introduced the concept of social factors in the causation of suicide, categorizing it into egoistic, altruistic, and anomic types.

Contemporary Perspectives

Today, the history of suicide informs contemporary debates on the subject. There is a growing recognition of the importance of mental health care and suicide prevention. International organizations and national governments have developed strategies and programs aimed at reducing suicide rates and supporting those affected by suicide.