"David Hume - Essays on Suicide and the Immortality of the Soul" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hume David)

because in every case it is criminal to encroach upon these laws, or
disturb their operation? But this seems absurd; all animals are
entrusted to their own prudence and skill for their conduct in the
world, and have full authority as far as their power extends, to
alter all the operations of nature. Without the excercise of this
authority they could not subsist a moment; every action, every
motion of a man, innovates on the order of some parts of matter, and
diverts from their ordinary course the general laws of motion.
Putting together, therefore, these conclusion, we find that human
life depends upon the general laws of matter and motion, and that it
is no encroachment on the office of providence to disturb or alter
these general laws: Has not every one, of consequence, the free
disposal of his own life? And may he not lawfully employ that power
with which nature has endowed him? In order {11} to destroy the
evidence of this conclusion, we must shew a reason why this
particular case is excepted; is it because human life is of such
great importance, that 'tis a presumption for human prudence to
dispose of it? But the life of a man is of no greater importance to
the universe than that of an oyster. And were it of ever so great
importance, the order of human nature has actually submitted it to
human prudence, and reduced us to a necessity, in every incident, of
determining concerning it. -- Were the disposal of human life so
much reserved as the peculiar province of the Almighty, that it were
an encroachment on his right, for men to dispose of their own lives;
it would be equally criminal to act for the preservation of life as
for its destruction. If I turn aside a stone which is falling upon
my head, I disturb the course of nature, and I invade the peculiar
province of the Almighty, by lengthening out my life beyond the
period which by the general laws of matter and motion he had
assigned it. ([editor's note] 3) {12}

A hair, a fly, an insect is able to destroy this mighty being
whose life is of such importance. Is it an absurdity to suppose that
human prudence may lawfully dispose of what depends on such
insignificant causes? It would be no crime in me to divert the
or from its course, were I able to effect such
purposes. Where then is the crime of turning a few ounces of blood
from their natural channel? -- Do you imagine that I repine at
Providence or curse my creation, because I go out of life, and put a
period to a being, which, were it to continue, would render me
miserable? Far be such sentiments from me; I am only convinced of a
matter of fact, which you yourself acknowledge possible, that human
life may be unhappy, and that my existence, if further prolonged,
would become ineligible; but I thank Providence, both for the good
which I have already enjoyed, and for the power with which I am
endowed of escaping the ill that {13} threatens me.[3] To you it
belongs to repine at providence, who foolishly imagine that you have
no such power, and who must still prolong a hated life, tho' loaded
with pain and sickness, with shame and poverty -- Do not you teach,
that when any ill befals me, tho' by the malice of my enemies, I

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