Durkheim's Suicide

What constitutes a living person? In my junior English class, we discussed an epic tale. I think it was Beowulf. It was one of the oldest stories told. In the centuries-old story, the hero is promised immortality. The teacher made the argument that this hero achieved immortality, by the simple fact that we were still studying his story now hundreds of years later. If a person can be dead, yet alive, then can a person be living, yet commit suicide? I believe that life exists on a sliding scale. Sure, Durkheim was only talking about those whose body ceased to support life. But his sociological discoveries can still be applied to social hermits and misfits and even those who have consecrated their own lives to ends that other people give them. Elder Maxwell spoke often of consecrating our lives to the Lord. Could he be talking about altruistic suicide? As interesting this is to think about, Jesus Christ himself puts it to rest when he tells us that “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” Hence the idea of being born again as an adopted son or daughter of God lays to rest whatever draw-backs we may feel to committing ourselves to the gospel.
During my travels to the Orient (I served my mission in Taiwan), I met a wise old man (he was the high-council representative for my ward) who took it upon himself to mentor me in the ways of good and decency (he told me neat story once. Intriguing, huh?).
Anyway, the story goes that a gardener was famous for miles around for his beautiful flowers. People would come from everywhere to see his flowers. He was something of a hermit, so when people came to see the sprawling gardens; they would wander around by themselves. But they didn’t mind him staying to himself because they loved the flowers so much. He eventually died. People still came by once in a while to see his garden, but after a time of no one tending to them, they became overgrown and ugly. No one came by anymore to see his garden.
A second man wrote beautiful music. He would stay up in his house for hours and days at a time without seeing anyone, but just write and write and write his beautiful music. Like the gardener, his work drew quite the crowd. Kings and noblemen would commission this man to write his beautiful music for special occasions. He was like a superstar. But even superstars are subject to Father Time, and he also died. People still loved to listen to his music, but since they didn’t have any new music, they just listened to the same songs over and over. Eventually, other great musicians came along with their beautiful compositions, and the man who used to be the most famous and popular became just another name in a long list of dead guys.
The third man in the story lived a different kind of life. He really enjoyed gardens and music. He went quite often to see the beautiful flowers and listen to the lyrical music. But he never went without taking someone with him, and that companion of his was always someone who was depressed or troubled. He was always cognizant of the people who needed help in his community. When they were sad, he was also sad along with them. He and his wife also raised a strong family, and taught his children to always look for opportunities to help others. This man did not have very much money, because he was always giving it away to people who didn’t have enough to eat or didn’t have clothing or didn’t have enough to buy gas to put in their car to go to work. Everyone in town knew this man and of his willingness to help out however he was able. He was an inspiring example to whoever met him of charity and kindness. Whoever received from him felt all the more willing to do their own part in helping others.
This man also eventually died. But no one ever forgot about him. Rather than spending all his effort with things, he invested himself in people. The interactions of others have a strengthening and growing impact on the participants. So then, life and death are functions of our relationships and our propensity to integrate ourselves into a group outside ourselves. The first two men, while still alive, suffered from egoistic suicide. Gardens and music do not constitute group integration.