The 60-Second Aquinas
Lesson
Regarding Suicide
August 16, 1998
Yesterday, I stated that we do not have freedom of choice with regards to our birth and our death.
I am sure that there will be those that say suicide is an exception. There are those who choose to die, and thus, they are exercising a freedom of choice with regard to death.
That is partially true.
There are those who also claim that suicide provides an individual some power over death. This is false.
I have heard of at least one person who publicly stated he intended to commit suicide in order to avoid the uncertainty regarding the timing of death.
And this is where the power over death and freedom of choice collide. It has to do with timing. An individual may choose to end his life, though he cannot choose to do so morally since suicide is a moral wrong.
However, death is inevitable for all living things. It cannot be avoided, and therefore, there is no true freedom of choice with regard to death: "our choice is always concerned with our actions. Now, whatever is done by us is possible to us. Therefore, we must needs say that choice is only of possible things." (ST First of the Second part, Q. 13, Art. 5).
Explanation of The 60-Second Aquinas Lesson
