I was a news broadcaster in my college years. My job was to search out and share local, national, and international pieces. I would watch CBC News to get ready. Peter Mansbridge was my go-to. His deep, confident voice felt like the bedrock of Canadian society. Yet even the greats would make mistakes.—Over time, I

“Think how long you have been doing the same thing over and over: food, sleep, sex, round and round in a circle. It is not only the sensible person, the brave person, and the miserable person who can conceive a wish to die: sheer disgust may wish for it as well.” – Seneca, Letters on

Let’s begin with an inconvenient question: What if the right to live doesn’t mean the obligation to stay alive? It’s a simple question, yet one that touches on the core of many of our deepest fears, values, and assumptions. Most of us are used to thinking about life as inherently sacred, survival as paramount, and

The Philosopher Muse presents Dr. Esther Braun with the golden laurel wreath for her outstanding work as an academic and champion of justice and liberty, thereby bestowing upon her the title ‘Our Lady of Liberty’ to be cherished and honored for time immemorial. Our Lady of Liberty—Upon thy head I place the laurel crown,Forged in

As societies move toward recognizing the right to die as a legitimate extension of personal autonomy, the challenge lies in establishing ethical and practical systems that both empower individuals and protect the public good. While the core principle behind self-directed dying is respect for individual agency, it must be balanced with policies that ensure competence,

Now let’s explore what it may look like for people to actually die with honor, dignity, and peace—particularly for mature, healthy, and competent persons who are resolved to depart. By justice, liberty, and human dignity, such individuals ought to have access to safe and responsible options for departure—without facing excessive barriers from the medical system—if