Clare Goldsberry

The question of whether life is worth living has been asked by humans throughout history and suicide has always been an option for those answering that question "No." James notes that in his day there are 3,000 suicides a year, which per capita may be close to the numbe of suicides today. He refers to "pessimism" as a cause for determining that life's struggles are not worth it, yet also notes the "remarkable fact that sufferings and hardships do not, as a rule, abate the love of life," adding that "need and struggle are what inspire us; our hour of triumph is what brings the void." Perhaps it is the hardships and suffering that brings about the suicide, but defining "hardship" and "suffering" is required and that is something different for everyone. No one could outwardly -- from a materialistic standpoint -- see Kate Spade or Anthony Bourdain "suffering" in a way we may conceive of this word. But evidently they came to a point where their life was not worth living. It's an age old question that brings much to ponder but few answers.