The death of Dr David Kelly has raised questions about justifications for suicide. The ancient Greeks were equally interested in the issue.
Greeks, like Romans, tended to take the view that humans were, for the most part, in full control of what they chose to do. The concepts of ‘mental imbalance’ or ‘unconscious motivation’ were not commonly applied. The main question, then, was ‘Why did X commit suicide?’, and the judgment about whether the suicide was to be applauded or condemned depended on the circumstances. In general, it was more favourable to commit suicide as a result of conscious deliberation than rash impulse: one must at all times be in control. Given that public appearances and reputation meant so much to the Greeks, anyone who committed suicide out of shame or because they thought they had been irretrievably dishonoured would be regarded as acting appropriately; while self-sacrifice, on behalf of friend or country, was actively applauded.
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