Abstract

LOPEZ FLORES, Luis Moisés. Kant, suicide and deprivation of life: A voluntarist interpretation. Sig. Fil [online]. 2021, vol.23, n.46, pp.8-37.  Epub Apr 04, 2022. ISSN 1665-1324.

It is common knowledge theposition of Kant regarding the immorality of suicide. Several authors attribute him an absolutist-forbidden criterion. Nerveless, there is no extended analysis about the metaphysical-conceptual definition of suicide in Kantian theory. In this paper I hold that suicide in Kant can be defined asphysical death, full, self-referential, voluntary, and immoral. This definition conflicts with the definition of deprivation of life which is not immoral. As voluntarily acts, both suicide and deprivation of life are rational acts that can be understood as maxims of action. The immorality property of suicide is due to the primacy of moral over non-moral reasons (technical or pragmatic).

Keywords : maxims; immorality of suicide; practical rationality; freedom; will.

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