Citation

Ponthiere G. Econ. Philos. 2022; 38(2): 300-308.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Cambridge University Press)

DOI

10.1017/S0266267121000055

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

According to Burri (2020), a major reason why suicide is often irrational lies in the option value of life. Remaining alive is valuable because this allows for a larger menu of options, and the possibility of committing suicide in the future adds further value to the act of remaining alive now. In this note, I represent life as a trust game played by two selves - the young self and the old self - and I argue that the possibility to commit suicide in the future can encourage committing suicide now, against what the theory of the option value of life predicts. ©

Language: en

Keywords

suicide; Keywords: value of life; multiple selves; option value; trust game