Opening/closing remarks and Panel Moderation
Type
conference contribution
Date Issued
2025-04-09
Author(s)
Abstract
Conference description:
A number of countries have legalized some form of assisted dying on the basis of a terminal medical diagnosis over the last decades. A significant issue in the ongoing discussion around legalization remains how to address the phenomenon of “existential suffering”—a form of suffering which causes a desire to die that is not necessarily linked to any physical or mental illness but stems from the conviction that one’s life has lost its meaning.
The issue has not only been taken up by institutions such as the Swiss Supreme Court and the Dutch parliament but has also been reflected upon in cultural productions. Works like Ferdinand von Schirach’s play "Gott" (2020) and Tuki Jencquel’s documentary "Jackie the Wolf" (2023) exemplify how narratives critically engage with questions surrounding existential suffering as a reason for seeking an assisted death. By bringing together experts from disciplines such as medical ethics, sociology, psychology, literary and film studies, philosophy, and history, this symposium’s aim is to enhance our comprehension of existential suffering by considering its ramifications for assisted dying, its representation in cultural productions, and its influence on the evolving legal frameworks surrounding end-of-life decisions.
A number of countries have legalized some form of assisted dying on the basis of a terminal medical diagnosis over the last decades. A significant issue in the ongoing discussion around legalization remains how to address the phenomenon of “existential suffering”—a form of suffering which causes a desire to die that is not necessarily linked to any physical or mental illness but stems from the conviction that one’s life has lost its meaning.
The issue has not only been taken up by institutions such as the Swiss Supreme Court and the Dutch parliament but has also been reflected upon in cultural productions. Works like Ferdinand von Schirach’s play "Gott" (2020) and Tuki Jencquel’s documentary "Jackie the Wolf" (2023) exemplify how narratives critically engage with questions surrounding existential suffering as a reason for seeking an assisted death. By bringing together experts from disciplines such as medical ethics, sociology, psychology, literary and film studies, philosophy, and history, this symposium’s aim is to enhance our comprehension of existential suffering by considering its ramifications for assisted dying, its representation in cultural productions, and its influence on the evolving legal frameworks surrounding end-of-life decisions.
Language
English
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
Event Title
Endings and Meanings Existential Suffering in the 21st Century
Event Location
Collegium Helveticum, ETH Zurich
Subject(s)
Division(s)
Additional Information
Conference organised by Anna M. Elsner and Marc Keller