Suicide and Euthanasia in Bioethics: History and Modernity by A. V. Antipov

In his recently published work Suicide and Euthanasia in Bioethics: History and Modernity A. V. Antipov looks into the phenomenon of suicide from a philosophical perspective and utilizes interdisciplinary approach to analyze the perception of suicide in social and health studies. The book opens with the definitions of the main concepts of the work: suicide, assisted suicide, euthanasia, etc. and distinction between them. Then the author investigates the transformation of these concepts over centuries of ethical and philosophical studies to bring the reader to the notion of modern debate around morality of assisted suicide and euthanasia. The concepts are viewed in the context of the notion of freedom as a philosophical category and consider recent data in the medical science, including genetic research findings. Contemplating historical attitudes to suicide the author focuses on Europe from antiquity to the Middle Ages and Modernity: he traces the reasons of making away with oneself shifting from the domain of religious sins to psychiatric disorders. The fourth chapter is devoted to suicide as perceived by the Orthodox church and Christian philosophers, Solovyov, Berdyaev and Dostoevsky. The fifth chapter deals with the modern understanding of the right to die. The controversial issue is not only viewed as a dignified death but is opposed by world health institutions and communities, as well as by the European Court of Human Rights. The chapter specifically focuses on the right to euthanasia granted to children and legally incapable people. Another concept discussed in the chapter is the so-called living will to be carried out in case of the person’s unconsciousness. The last chapter gives a comprehensive understanding of problems of life and death in modern society. The book is worth reading for it combines a scientific historical and philosophical approaches with clear and vivid narration, allowing readers to form their own perception on the everdebatable problem of suicide and euthanasia.