The Prohibition of Suicide for Affirmation of Human Beings by Augustine

Abstract

In this paper I examine Augustine's argument about suicide. As is generally known, Augustine argues that suicide is a sin even if it is for saving our honour. This prohibition of suicide is opposite to traditional Roman thought. There was a tradition of people who did not hesitate to die for their faith which was not only in pagan tradition, but also in the Christian church. Through what kind of process of thinking did Augustine adopt the opinion which prohibited suicide? I suggest that Augustine's opinion is not obeying the sixth commandment blindly. It is based on his understanding about human will that he gained through early considerations. I will conclude that Augustine's prohibition of suicide is not necessarily as rigorous as generally supposed. It rather proposes the affirmation of human beings.