Biathanatos

Biathanatos is a controversial treatise written by the English poet and cleric John Donne in 1648. The book is an exploration of the moral and theological implications of suicide, arguing that self-homicide may not be inherently sinful and should not be considered an absolute moral wrong. Donne's thesis challenges the prevailing Christian belief that suicide is a grave sin, and instead proposes that there may be circumstances under which suicide is justifiable or even morally necessary. He examines various philosophical and theological arguments against suicide, including the idea that it is a violation of natural law, a rejection of God's sovereignty, or a failure to trust in divine providence. The book is structured as a series of dialogues between a skeptic and a defender of suicide, with Donne himself serving as the mediator. Through these dialogues, Donne explores the complexity of the issue and the various factors that might influence a person's decision to take their own life. He also draws on his own experiences of grief and loss to offer a compassionate and nuanced perspective on suicide. Despite its controversial subject matter, Biathanatos was widely read and discussed in its time, and continues to be studied today as a significant work of early modern literature and philosophy.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.