Discussion Why was suicide a crime?

[Baskol1]

Why was suicide a crime in the past? I mean it doesnt make any sense, or does it? And are there still countries where suicide attempts are illegal? So you will punished with jailtime if it fails? And not just a short time in psych ward? Is it because you were technically property of the state? Or why was suicide deemed a crime?

 

[ericwilkinson]

I think to shame people from attempting suicide. I know in Catholic Europe during the Middle Ages and even in places around the world where it's still not illegal but frowned upon, the family had their assets seized by the local ruler/king.

 

[Baskol1]

I think to shame people from attempting suicide. I know in Catholic Europe during the Middle Ages and even in places around the world where it's still not illegal but frowned upon, the family had their assets seized by the local ruler/king.

Yes, the local Ruler needs Slaves.

 

[bluesky1972-2019]

I think it was illegal so they could try and control the population. Lots of things are illegal but people still break the law!
I believe it's your absolute right to do what you want with your own life. Nobody has the right to tell you any different.

 

[pole]

definitely think religion plays a role. society where religion is dominant often saw suicide as a crime in itself and labeled it as "Self-Murder".

 

[Roger]

definitely think religion plays a role. society where religion is dominant often saw suicide as a crime in itself and labeled it as "Self-Murder".

Indeed. The German word is selbstmord which translates exactly as "self-murder."
In England it was legally referred to by the Latin phrase Felo de Se. (a "Felony of Himself"). If a coroner decided that the perpetrator was not completely sane, then this was a full defence. From the 19th Century onwards, coroners and their juries were very tolerant in accepting insanity, and their verdicts very frequently (the vast majority by the beginning of the 20th Century) accepted "temporary insanity."

 

[pole]

Indeed. The German word is selbstmord which translates exactly as "self-murder."
In England it was legally referred to by the Latin phrase Felo de Se. (a "Felony of Himself"). If a coroner decided that the perpetrator was not completely sane, then this was a full defence. From the 19th Century onwards, coroners and their juries were very tolerant in accepting insanity, and their verdicts very frequently (the vast majority by the beginning of the 20th Century) accepted "temporary insanity."

its extremely interesting to read about honestly.

 

[Lady black]

In Great britain you got hanged by neck after a failed attempt in the past, cause it was a crime to commit suicide

 

[Baskol1]

In Great britain you got hanged by neck after a failed attempt in the past, cause it was a crime to commit suicide

Really? That would be ironic. I dont think suicidal people would mind.

 

[Lady black]

I read it somewhere in the internet, for a failed pact the punishment was definitive death by hanging

 

[Baskol1]

I read it somewhere in the internet, for a failed pact the punishment was definitive death by hanging

Still ironic

 

[pole]

Really? That would be ironic. I dont think suicidal people would mind.

Lmaoo ikr, so someone wants to die, and trying to die is a punishment.. so lets give them the punishment of death by hanging!

 

[Lookingforabus]

Why was suicide a crime in the past? I mean it doesnt make any sense, or does it? And are there still countries where suicide attempts are illegal? So you will punished with jailtime if it fails? And not just a short time in psych ward? Is it because you were technically property of the state? Or why was suicide deemed a crime?

Moralizing twits and "destruction of State property", of course.

(Geo Stone's book has a good chapter on the history of attitudes towrads suicide in the Western world. Used to be punishable by death, result in the confiscation of the family's assets and be used to deny a "proper" Christian burial, resulting in hell, according to the beliefs of the day.)

Ultimately, it's the same reason blasphemy and atheism used to be against the law in the West (last successful prosecution for which was in the 1920's, though avowed atheists are still more likely to be found guilty and recurve harsher punishments in criminal cases in the US to this day), or why homosexuality was illegal as recently as the 1990's, or why recreational drugs are illegal today, and even why "improper" use of prescription drugs is a crime. You don't actually own yourself, the government does, and in democratic societies, that means everyone gets a say in what you do, even what you do to only yourself.

Lmaoo ikr, so someone wants to die, and trying to die is a punishment.. so lets give them the punishment of death by hanging!

That was it part of it. They also excommunicated the people and denied them a Christian burial, so they'd go to hell, then siezed the property of the family. So, not quite as ironic as it sounds to modern sensibilities. Basically, the punishment for attempting suicide was hell, plus the destitution of your family.

 

[Roger]

In Great britain you got hanged by neck after a failed attempt in the past, cause it was a crime to commit suicide

Joke ?

Be careful, somebody may believe you.

 

[Lookingforabus]

Joke ?

Be careful, somebody may believe you.

No joke, that was (part of) the punishment in parts of medieval Europe for attempted suicide.