The Fly in the Ointment

Immanuel Kant tests his famous formula on four examples, and one of them refuses to behave. Paul Guyer reads the suicide passage of the Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals aloud, then does something rare in a lifetime of editing Kant: he grades it. From there the question turns contemporary. What does the duty to live mean when illness is dismantling personhood itself? What did Kant's own lectures concede? And why does a bestselling novel about a heartbroken young man stand behind the whole passage? It is a hard subject, handled the way Guyer handles everything: carefully and honestly. It discusses suicide, and it ends with places to find help.

Content note: this episode includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you love is struggling, or thinking about suicide, you don't have to carry it alone. In the United States, you can call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, any time, or chat online at 988lifeline.org. Outside the United States, findahelpline.com lists free, confidential support lines by country.