Philosophers and suicide

Jihadi · Feb 23rd, 2009, 08:15 AM

what are ur views on philosopher commiting suicide? Why they do it? Its slightly frustrating... What you think philosophers are very depressed, prone-to-suicide types etc 1. It was said that Empedocles jump out of a Volcano to meet the Absolute. its rumor though.
2. Socrates drunk hemlock while having offered a chance of escape. Can that be counted as suicide? Don't think so though ... Seneca was forced to commit suicide after falling out with Emperor Nero...
1940 Walter Benjamin committed suicide at the Spanish-French border, after attempting to flee from the Nazis....
1979 Evald Ilyenkov committed suicide...
1994 David Stove committed suicide after a painful struggle with disease... Heres an article about philosophers deaths wiki/Death_of_philosophers

Numb · Feb 23rd, 2009, 07:31 PM

I want, too.

Can you shed the true light on Socrates' death? if we are about to discuss about Philisopher or shall I tell?

Jihadi · Feb 24th, 2009, 01:07 AM

You go ahead ... Only want to mention that Socrates turned down the pleas of Crito to attempt an escape from prison. It is also understood that Socrates also wished to die because he "actually believed the right time had come for him to die". More details wiki/trial_of_socrates

Faris Udeen · Feb 24th, 2009, 05:27 AM

Imam Hussain is my philosopher elite.

Did you not know that he was not exactly the last of the Sahabah. The sons of all the four previos caliphs were still alive. Plenty of people could have done something about yazid..... but no Imam Hussain radi allahu anhu gave his life to set an example. If ever muslims find themselves opressed they must think of Imam Hussain.

"I am not a Shia however if by loving the Ahle bayt i am seen as one then call me the greatest of Shia." Imam Shafi said that.

Taking ones own life is haraam but to give up life in a manner of sacrifice is the greatest of things becuase it will grant you and your cause immortality. Think about it, if you stand for something and you want to have it last forever, the best way to secure it is to go out there and prove your dedication.

Would Leonidas of Sparta have been a hero had he run at Thermopalaye?

Would Christians exhist without Jesus having supposedly been crucified?
(I know he wasn't but Christians don't know do they?)

Would the Sicarri and Zealots ever have gained fame without Massada?

Did not Waris Sha die so his poems could live forever?

You might ask what this has to do with philosophy, think deeply and you will understand.

Please dont construe my words as meaning that we should all jump off cliffs or blow ourselves up. What i'm trying to highlight is the strange paradox here in which people like me find fascinating how to cement a belief blood has to be spilt. It's very eiree and brooding isn't it?

Anyway enough of such dark thoughts. Begone oh Beurecrat! Bring on the wine!

These verses will hopfully explain all these paradoxes in a far more entertaining manner. Love is mighter than the Nuke!

This is the tavern of love......its full of drinkers....we are all drinkers here.
Bring on the cup oh Saqi! Here it's not forbidden to drink or to give drink....Only thing forbidden is to be sober after a drink!
This is not a place for Puritans oh shiek!....Here it is forbidden to be chaste!
It is forbidden to be moralistic!
This wine has no particular charecter of its own....this wine is discriminating and disecerning.....It has no particular charecteristic.....it's nirther good or bad.
The pure in heart are elevated by it.....those who are weak in charecter it destroys.....He who is drunk on a little knowledge throw him out of this tavern!
There is no room here for the narrow minded.....There is only room for the pure in heart!
(Quwali by Aziz Mian. Ye Hai Maikada!)