'He drinks a liquid, falls into a deep sleep and dies'

[Lord Jim]

I really don't want to get in to this, but I do have to agree that "worthless" and "worth less" are absolutely not interchangeable; they have completely different meanings.


"Worthless" means, as someone else pointed out, "without worth" ie, having no worth or value at all. As a description, it stands by itself.

"Worth less" has no meaning at all unless you use it in comparison with two or more things. For example, "Painting A is worth less than painting B"; In this case, painting A could have a great deal of worth, just not as much as painting B....

On the other hand, if you say "Painting A is worthless" than you are saying that it has no value whatsoever.

Obviously, these are two entirely different concepts.

[loCAtek]

I'm still of the opinion that what one holds sacred or worthless, is dependent upon perspective, and can not be held to an absolute.


For example: religion is held sacred to some, while others find the same belief worthless.

[The Hen]

Which are both absolute positions on the same issue.

[Sean]

And I'm still trying to explain to you that 'worthless' is not the opposite of 'sacred'.

That's like saying that 'heavy' is the opposite of 'green'.

[Sean]

For example: religion is held sacred to some, while others find the same belief worthless.

A much better word than 'worthless' in that sentence would be 'irrelevant'.

[thestoat]

Lo, getting back to your original question, that hopefully (though you may not admit it) will see is formulated using a lack of understanding of the words used

Stoat, you'd prefer life wasn't sacred, and worthless?

To me, life isn't sacred - I find it a ridiculous notion. Thus the term "sacred" should not come into the assisted suicide argument. If someone wants to commit suicide because they are terminally ill, in huge amounts of pain, etc., then some religious type saying life is sacred is forcing their beliefs on them, which is awful, especially at such a fragile and unhappy time in their life.

BUT

That does NOT make life worthless. If someone is so ill and has no viable way out and decides to end it with dignity then I believe they should be allowed to do so without the bigorty and dogma that comes with people whining on about life being sacred.

[@meric@nwom@n]

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sex ... -is-sacred

While he uses abortion to make his argument, his points are highly applicable to suicide as well.

Those who claim they oppose abortion in defense of the sacredness of human life (and don't devote energy and passion to any of these other causes) are speaking non-sense.

Fellow PT blogger Peter Singer has written eloquently on this question. One argument he's made is that if human life is sacred because of intelligence and consciousness, then an adult chimp's life is more sacred than a brain-damaged infant human's. The chimp's intelligence and consciousness is undeniably more developed than the infant's. On the other hand, if it's simply being a Homo sapiens that makes life sacred, why is a three week old fetus more deserving of our concern than a three year old child in Guatemala – or one living in poverty within miles of where you're reading this now?

Dear anti abortion crusaders: Human life is not sacred. Save your breath.

[loCAtek]

Very good stoat, I appreciate your academics.


...and I'm of two minds 'bout assisted suicide. I've no wish to have anyone suffer, whilst I have no idea what they're going through.

..BUT

They are leaving this life, and what else can best console them; rather than remind them of what they are missing out of, by dying?
.

[thestoat]

Missing out on a load of pain, suffering and then a painful death.

[loCAtek]

Well, to address @w's point, all life is sacred, since we on this Earth are all interconnected. As man destroys the planet, he destroys himself. Personally, I believe the planet is out of balance with far too many humans on it. Humans should stop thinking they are greater than the natural world, before we receive some harsh lessons from nature



How we die, is largely determined by how we have lived; keep fit, eat healthy, stay composed emotionally and mentally; and passing is less complicated. It's best not to decide to do those things at the last minute; like as you said, trying to 'get religion' on your deathbed. If you choose to study it, as a away of centering and composing yourself to face the end of your life; that should be an ongoing process, not a last desperate measure. I've known many spiritual people who went without medications, and choose to go 'naturally'.

This story is true, I've told it on the CSB before;

A few years ago, my next-door neighbor was a sweet, older, Christian woman that we knew for about five years and she had generally seemed in fine health.
In 2000, she was diagnosed with leukemia that advanced to the stage her doctors recommended chemotherapy. That treatment was very rough on her; her hair fell out; her joints ached so bad, she had to walk with a cane, and overall she was terribly unhappy.
Finally, she went to a Christian faith healer who told her she was cured and she didn't need the drugs any more. She seemed so much better, happy and free of care. In 2001, I had to leave on deployment and while I was gone I was surprised to hear the news that she had suddenly died.
"What!?" I recall exclaiming to my Ex, "She said she was cured!"
He explained that she must have not wanted the chemo any longer and just decided to live to the fullest with the time she had left. Her faith was strong enough, she could accept that.

In reality, we never really know when our time will come; we could choke on a cherry pit; drown in the bathtub; or get hit by stray space debris. We should always be preparing ourselves to face that finality. Masking it, or denying that it has to faced - is not the natural order of things.
Frankly, death is the painless part; it's life that hurts so much more.