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Dying for the cause: The rationality of martyrs, suicide bombers and self-immolators

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  • Andrew Greenland
  • Damon Proulx
  • David A Savage

Abstract

This article explores the impact that belief in an infinite afterlife has on end-of-life decisions, specifically on those viewed at the extreme, such as martyrs, suicide bombers and self-immolators. We extend a simplified expected utility-based model to include variations of infinitely rewarding afterlife’s and explore how this may impact the expected utility and rationality of earthly actions and decisions of individuals when the expected utility payoff is infinite. We show that the decision process for suicide and euthanasia is closely linked to martyrs, suicide bombers and self-immolators, such that all these individuals make rational decisions to regards to the end of their own life.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrew Greenland & Damon Proulx & David A Savage, 2020. "Dying for the cause: The rationality of martyrs, suicide bombers and self-immolators," Rationality and Society, , vol. 32(1), pages 93-115, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ratsoc:v:32:y:2020:i:1:p:93-115
    DOI: 10.1177/1043463119900327
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Damon Proulx & David A. Savage, 2020. "What Determines End-of-Life Attitudes? Revisiting the Dutch Experience," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 152(3), pages 1085-1125, December.

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