Suicide since Plato and Karl Marx. Two different visions before the same philosophical problem

Authors

  • Víctor Ernesto Valdivieso Carrillo Autonomous University of Colombia

Keywords:

death, suicide, philosophy, revolution

Abstract

In this essay, I approach Plato's and Karl Marx's reflection on suicide. Even though these thinkers conceive such reflection from different stances, their convergence makes this an interesting case to consider. It is important to mention that Plato's 'Phaedo' suggests a  reflection  on  suicide  from  a  question  related  to  the  position  a  philosophe ought to adopt towards death. For Plato, despite  the philosopher's duty of preparation for his/her decease, neither self-harm nor arbitrary decisions to end his/her life should be  conceived.  Marx,  on  the  other  hand,  asserts  that,  according  to  Peuchet's  police reports,  suicide  constitutes  one  of  the  most  salient  symptoms  of  social  degradation derived  from  capitalism.  Marx  does  not  condemn  suicide  and  understands  its  motives. Albeit, he maintains that, rather evading life, one ought to opt for revolution.

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References

Camus, A. (1995). El mito de Sísifo. Madrid: Alianza Editorial.

Foucault, M. (2005). Historia de la sexualidad I. La voluntad de saber. México: Siglo XXI.

Marx, K. (2012). Acerca del suicidio. Buenos Aires: Las cuarenta.

Montaigne, M. (2007). Los ensayos. Barcelona: Acantilado.

Platón. (2006). Fedón o de la inmortalidad del alma. Buenos Aires: Eudeba.

Séneca. (1986). Epístolas morales a Lucilio. Madrid: Gredos.

Published

2017-12-23

How to Cite

Valdivieso Carrillo, V. E. (2017). Suicide since Plato and Karl Marx. Two different visions before the same philosophical problem. Versiones. Philosophy’s Journal, (12), 50–61. Retrieved from https://revistas.udea.edu.co/index.php/versiones/article/view/330613

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Section

Artículos