The Social Meaning of Suicide

The finality of a successful suicide imparts to this subject transcendent importance. Physician, friend, and family may share in its deep involvement. Any who seek some sort of physical, metaphysical, or psychological assistance from this book will be disappointed. In sociological vein, Douglas reviews first Durkheim'sSuicide, originally published in 1897. In brief, Durkheim advanced the proposition that social (altruistic) forces influence the general trend of suicide or "suicidal rates," while individual forces (egoism) determine the end result or action of the individual in this direction. Imbalance of these forces may tip the scale. One might say that society predisposes while man disposes. Douglas devotes much of his book to critical analysis of Durkheim's work and others that followed. Little escapes criticism or questioning—from evaluating methods of collecting statistical data to philosophical inquiry into the meaning of suicide and death. Douglas hesitates to accept official reports of suicide; he stresses