Discussion The Hierarchy of Suffering

[Dür Ktulhu]

What do you think - strictly speaking - does a person deserve compassion if their motives are unworthy, someone who takes their own life due to base and material hardships (poor appearance, insecurities, etc.) rather than existential, metaphysical philosophical problems arising from the very fact of existence? Dostoevsky reflected on this, stating that no one commits suicide as a philosophical act, and concluded that although there have been hundreds of suicides, they are all petty and unworthy. He draws a distinction and devalues the act based on its causes and motives.

Does "unworthy" pain exist? I think it does. And you?
Is there a right to death?
Can we devalue another's agony if it lacks a lofty idea?
Should we respect despair that contains no philosophy?
Does "unworthy" grief deserve compassion?
Must suicide born of mundane pain transform into existential anguish and a philosophical act?

 

[MicahBell]

i think all suffering is worthy and deserves compassion. it takes a lot to compel a person not just want to die, but to defy their evolutionary imperative to survive and go through with it.

 

[dontwakemeup]

I think my pain and others pains are different, BUT we will probably value our pain the same!
For example: Person 1 doesn't have legs anymore due to a car accident. When he is depressed, everyone says, "You should be happy you're still alive, you almost died in that crash!" He now wants to ctb.
Person 2: Father has abused her since she was 7, and mother never knew. She runs away at 15 and lives on the streets and picked up an illegal drug habit. She is hopeless and tired of addiction but can't seem to stop. She now wants to ctb.

Pain when it pertains to suicide to me, is equal. Those 2 people will agree they have the right to ctb and nobody will be able to convince them differently. This is why I'm pro-choice. I believe there should be a hierarchy of suicide. After a few failed attempts, I definitely believe there are stages. During my attempts, wondering if others thought I made the right decision never crossed my mind at all. Others opinions of me I don't rank as important to me.