Mitchell Heisman, Prophet or Fool???

[uncltim]

I have been reading his suicide note for some time now. I am completely engrossed by it. Have you heard of this?

I would value your opinions.

The media story: www.thecrimson.com/article/2010/9/22/heisman-harvard-mother-death/

His writings: www.suicidenote.info/ebook/suicide_note.pdf

[valpomike]

I myself think anyone who takes there own life, is sick, and needed help, from those around who could have cared.

Mike

[tufta]

I haven't heard about it until your I read your posting, Uncltim. I read a short note in on of your links and I have opened the pdf file.
The motto

Ordinary people seem not to realize that those
who really apply themselves in the right way to
philosophy are directly and of their own accord
preparing themselves for dying and death. If this
is true, and they have actually been looking
forward to death all their lives, it would of course
be absurd to be troubled when the thing comes
for which they have so long been preparing and
looking forward.
—SOCRATES,

is very deeply true. I am however afraid there is not much 'new' to expect in the whole 'suicidal note'. But I will read at least parts of it and come back to this interesting thread. Thanks for posting.

[uncltim]

Yes Mike, It is sad in a way. From our worldview it is a sickness or sin or whatever. The interesting thing is that from his worldview it is not. He is not crazy.

Tufta, I found no new philosophical ideas in this, but I enjoyed the read greatly. He feels the same about a great many things as I do. I view this almost as a work of performance art! The ending is absolutely delicious to me. In another way, I find his life to be a analogy of the West. I think that some may understand, some may understand partially, and some never will. Where ever we all fall in these categories, Its certainly a story worth pondering.

I am somewhat of a "Manifesto collector". Individuals who take an unlikely view of society really capture my attention for some unknown reason to me. Perhaps I am mentally ill myself, or, maybe I am well and society is ill. Who knows.

[tufta]

Uncltim, I am somewhere around one fifth of the text (yes I a am a super fast reader
The author has already fallen in a trap of nihilism. Which he sees and agrees he did. And he has fallen in a trap of relativism, which he does not see. Many contemporary people don't notice that trap. In short - although most of the world matters are grey it doesn't mean that white and black colour does not exist at all - they really do. Also pragmatically he proposes something impossible: lets agree for a while with the author that there is no reason to prolong our own life and agree that ending own life is nothing 'wrong' (anyway, nothing like wrong or right even exists according to him). What about those unable to prolong or stop their life on their own? The author didn't go that far to propose murder of children, mentally handicapped or just immobile patients of numerous hospital wards. If we all commit suicide what will be with them? They will die not out of their own will, no?
Ok, u let's see what will be next, as I agree the text has something in it that makes one interested what will be next. He could have made millions and lived comforatbly... but... would anyone read it without the knowledge the author committed suicide?

[uncltim]

Tufta, The author maintains a reasonably non-judgemental tone throughout the work. He adresses the what to do about the sick and incompetent somewhat when he discusses Nazi ideology. With regard to wealth and fame, he does not appear to me to be narcissistic in any real fashion to me. I can't spot any agenda for the piece. Maybe thats why its so interesting to me.

[valpomike]

If we find problems, and we all have them, we must work harder to correct them, not just give up.

Mike

[uncltim]

Remember this Michael?


The Holy Bible: King James Version. 2000.
Ecclesiastes
OR, THE PREACHER

1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

3 What profit hath a man of all his labor which he taketh under the sun?

4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.

5 The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.

6 The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.

7 All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full: unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.

8 All things are full of labor; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

10 Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.

11 There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.


The Experience of the Preacher
12 ¶ I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

13 And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.

14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.

16 ¶ I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. 1 Kgs. 4.29-31

17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

18 For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.