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Quotation from Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals by Immanuel Kant
“A man reduced to despair by a series of misfortunes feels wearied of life, but is still so far in possession of his reason that he can ask himself whether it would not be contrary to his duty to himself to take his own life”
Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, Second Section, first example, trans. Thomas Kingsmill Abbott (1889)
The first of the four test cases for the universal-law formula; Kant argues the maxim of suicide from self-love cannot be a law of nature.
Citation: "A man reduced to despair by a series of misfortunes feels wearied of life, but is still so far in possession of his reason that he can ask himself whether it would not be contrary to his duty to himself to take his own life" — Immanuel Kant, Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, Second Section, first example, trans. Thomas Kingsmill Abbott (1889). (id groundwork-of-the-metaphysics-of-morals-q10)
Portrait: Immanuel Kant - Gemaelde 2, Becker, Public domain.
