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History - History of Suicide: Voluntary Death in Western Culture (Medicine and Culture)

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Book Synopsis: Selected by Choice Magazine as an Outstanding Academic TitleIn this compact and illuminating history, Georges Minois examines how a culture's attitudes about suicide reflect its larger beliefs and values―attitudes toward life and death, duty and honor, pain and pleasure. Minois begins his survey with classical Greece and Rome, where suicide was acceptable―even heroic―under some circumstances. With the rise of Christianity, however, suicide was unequivocally condemned as self-murder and an insult to God. With the Renaissance and its renewed interest in classical culture, suicide reemerged as a philosophical issue. Minois finds examples of changing attitudes in key Renaissance texts by Bacon, Montaigne, Sidney, Donne, and Shakespeare.By 1700, the term suicide had replaced self-murder and the subject began to interest the emerging scientific disciplines. Minois follows the ongoing evaluation of suicide through the Enlightenment and the Romantic periods, and he examines attitudes that emerge in nineteenth- and twentieth-century science, law, philosophy, and literature. Minois concludes with comments on the most recent turn in this long and complex history―the emotional debate over euthanasia, assisted suicide, and the right to die.

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Discover the fascinating history of suicide in Western culture with the gripping and thought-provoking book, "History of Suicide: Voluntary Death in Western Culture" by Georges Minois. This outstanding academic title offers an insightful exploration of how a culture's attitudes towards suicide reflect its larger beliefs and values. Through poignant examples and meticulous research, Minois takes you on a captivating journey from classical Greece and Rome, where suicide was considered acceptable and even heroic, to the present day, where the debate over euthanasia and the right to die continues to stir our emotions.

Uncover the evolving perspectives on suicide as you delve into key Renaissance texts by prominent figures like Bacon, Montaigne, Sidney, Donne, and Shakespeare. Witness the rise of scientific disciplines and the gradual shift from condemning suicide as self-murder to viewing it as a complex philosophical issue. From the Enlightenment to the Romantic periods, Minois delves into the changing attitudes that permeated nineteenth- and twentieth-century science, law, philosophy, and literature.

With "History of Suicide: Voluntary Death in Western Culture," you'll gain a comprehensive understanding of how cultural norms and societal values shape our perception of suicide. As you absorb the compelling narratives and insightful analysis provided by Minois, you'll be empowered to form your own opinions on the emotional debate surrounding euthanasia and assisted suicide.

Don't miss this opportunity to enrich your knowledge and broaden your perspective on one of life's most sensitive topics. Click here to get your hands on "History of Suicide: Voluntary Death in Western Culture" and embark on a journey that will challenge your beliefs and deepen your understanding of the complex nature of suicide.

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