Suicide And Evolution

This book is a three part analysis of suicide from a
philosophical perspective. First, this analysis is an
attempt to explain the phenomenon of suicide from an
evolutionary perspective.It is a thoroughly
Naturalistic analysis, one that pays homage to
Darwin's brilliant insight concerning the origins of
life.Second, many philosophers have written about the
definition and moral status of suicide. This analysis
sets forth the ideas of several highly influential
philosophers such as Plato, Immanuel Kant, and David
Hume. Third, I attempt to justify my definition of
suicide as well as its extension in the natural
world. If suicide is the intentional act of killing
oneself and if the distinction between intentionally
X-ing and intending to X is correct, then our
commonplace, intuitive understanding of the class of
actions which count as instances of suicide is
mistaken. Those agents who heroically sacrifice
themselves for the sake of others are included in the
definition, despite the altruistic intentions of the
agent. The rhetoric surrounding suicide is revealed
by analyzing the evolutionary factors which
contribute to self damaging behavior.

Autorentext

Michael B. Miller was born and raised in Lakeland, Florida. In2004, he graduated from Jacksonville University with a BS inPhilosophy. Ben received his MA from Florida State University in2008. He intends to finish his PhD in 2010.

Klappentext

This book is a three part analysis of suicide from aphilosophical perspective. First, this analysis is anattempt to explain the phenomenon of suicide from anevolutionary perspective.It is a thoroughlyNaturalistic analysis, one that pays homage toDarwin's brilliant insight concerning the origins oflife.Second, many philosophers have written about thedefinition and moral status of suicide. This analysissets forth the ideas of several highly influentialphilosophers such as Plato, Immanuel Kant, and DavidHume. Third, I attempt to justify my definition ofsuicide as well as its extension in the naturalworld. If suicide is the intentional act of killingoneself and if the distinction between intentionallyX-ing and intending to X is correct, then ourcommonplace, intuitive understanding of the class ofactions which count as instances of suicide ismistaken. Those agents who heroically sacrificethemselves for the sake of others are included in thedefinition, despite the altruistic intentions of theagent. The rhetoric surrounding suicide is revealedby analyzing the evolutionary factors whichcontribute to self damaging behavior.