Q&A: Euthanasia – Daniel Kahneman
Euthanasia – Daniel Kahneman
Question
Last week I read that it was reported that Professor Daniel Kahneman chose to end his life and die at age 90 while still healthy and with a clear-minded decision.
What do you think about the decision he made? Is it rational? Would you make such a decision yourself?
And on the halakhic side, does Jewish law accept a person's wish to die as the result of a considered decision? Does it make a difference if the person is ill and suffering?
Relevant link – https://mobile.mako.co.il/news-money/2025_q1/Article-a0c4dc57823b591027.htm
Thank you very much.
Answer
A very sensible decision. But halakhically it is forbidden. If a person is suffering terribly, there may perhaps be permission not to treat them. Permission for active suicide would require extremely severe suffering, and even then it would need some discussion.
Discussion on Answer
First of all, who said I'm opposed even in such cases? Second, if it's the mother's suffering, it seems there's no justification for killing the fetus in order to save her from that.
I meant the fetus—if we're talking about defects that would involve suffering, are you opposed or not?
To justify murder, extreme suffering is required, and in order to do that to someone else (not the person himself), you need a strong assessment that any reasonable person would want that. Even that is not simple, because there's a difference between a living person's decision to commit suicide and a decision not to come into existence. A decision not to come into existence is not well-defined, because it is never the person's own decision.
So why are you opposed to abortion in a case of extreme suffering?