@wolly.green
But wouldn't saving a person from dying (such as someone on the verge of suicide) deliberately benefit that person, hence making it morally right (according to what yo just said)? We could also say that neglecting them when they cry out to you in pain (i.e. communicating their intent) is deliberately harming them.
I think there are reasons to help them from all of the major ethical orientations. It would be virtuous to do so according to the philosophies of Christianity, Buddhism, etc. We also have a duty to help them vis-a-vis the categorical imperative or something similar. Finally, there are numerous good reasons to help the person from a consequentialist perspective, even if you wanted to make the explanation based in evolutionary psychology- something like generalized reciprocity. You help that person, they help another person, and so on.... and the world becomes a better place, which ultimately benefits you in return.
On a more personal level (still consequentialism), I do not think I could live with myself if I took no action and let someone die like that without doing anything. I have thought about suicide almost every day for about 15 years now, and so letting someone do it without trying to help them would basically be admitting to myself that suicide is an acceptable course of action- that the principle of suicide itself has validity.
Suicide has to be invalid. It would hurt me too much to let it be otherwise.
