Altruistic suicide

Altruistic suicide is the sacrifice of one's life in order to save or benefit others, for the good of the group, or to preserve the traditions and honor of a society. It is always intentional. Benevolent suicide refers to the self-sacrifice of one's own life for the sake of the greater good.^[1] Such a sacrifice may be performed for the sake of executing a particular action, or for the sake of keeping a natural balance in the society.

Altruistic suicide was seen by Émile Durkheim in his book Suicide: A Study In Sociology as the product of over-integration with society.^[2]^[3] Real-life examples in his book include "a soldier choosing to go to war for his family/community/country". However, this type of categorization remained controversial, as it downplayed the valor of such actions.^[4] According to Durkheim, altruistic suicide contrasts with egoistic suicide, fatalistic suicide, and anomic suicide.

In contrast, a "sacrifice" which is committed by the force of a state is referred to as eugenics or mass murder, but may be otherwise referred to as "enforced population limits" or "population control". In literature, examples may promote the concept as a means for ending enduring types of social conflict, or else deride the concept as an example of a dystopian future society.^[5]

^ Lewis B. Smedes (9 March 1989). Mere Morality: What God Expects from Ordinary People. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. pp. 114–. ISBN 978-0-8028-0257-6.
^ Robert L. Barry (1 January 1996). Breaking the Thread of Life: On Rational Suicide. Transaction Publishers. pp. 13–. ISBN 978-1-56000-923-8.
^ Steven J. Jensen (1 September 2011). The Ethics of Organ Transplantation. CUA Press. pp. 187–. ISBN 978-0-8132-1874-8.
^ "What are Emile Durkheims four Types of Suicide". Actforlibraries.org. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
^ Rysa Ket. ReadOn. Rysa. pp. 1–. GGKEY:PJG0JH7UBZD.^{[permanent dead link]}

[Smedes1989-1] Lewis B. Smedes (9 March 1989). Mere Morality: What God Expects from Ordinary People. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. pp. 114–. ISBN 978-0-8028-0257-6.

[Barry1996-2] Robert L. Barry (1 January 1996). Breaking the Thread of Life: On Rational Suicide. Transaction Publishers. pp. 13–. ISBN 978-1-56000-923-8.

[Jensen2011-3] Steven J. Jensen (1 September 2011). The Ethics of Organ Transplantation. CUA Press. pp. 187–. ISBN 978-0-8132-1874-8.

[4] "What are Emile Durkheims four Types of Suicide". Actforlibraries.org. Retrieved 2022-06-16.

[Ket-5] Rysa Ket. ReadOn. Rysa. pp. 1–. GGKEY:PJG0JH7UBZD.^{[permanent dead link]}

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