Citation

Torben S. Nord. Psykol. 2003; 55(3): 217-234.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, Akademisk Forlag)

DOI

10.1080/00291463.2003.10637421

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

An examination of the politician and philosopher Cicero's letters from his exile (58/57) clearly shows that he was suffering from heavy depression and conceived suicide as a solution. In his letter to the close friend Atticus he describes his feelings openly and desperately. Cicero's psychic problem was not caused by the fact that he could not satisfy his primary material needs, that is to keep body and soul together. He could do it. Cicero's problem was related to his self- perception: What had he been? What did he become? Who was he? At that time it was difficult for him to make decisions. His thoughts were often about suicide. It brings about a question: Why didn't he commit suicide? The reason was the cultural construction of that time that could accept the act of suicide only if it was committed at the right time to save or add to a person's 'dignitas'. To commit suicide because of depression or grief was contemptible. If Cicero should have committed suicide, should he have done it before he became a refugee and got depression. © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Language: da