Daniel Kahneman opted for assisted suicide in Switzerland

Summary

Daniel Kahneman was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2002. (archive picture) Picture: sda At the age of 90, Nobel Prize winner Daniel Kahneman chose to die a self-determined death in Switzerland. He spent his last days in Paris - conscious, fulfilled and quiet. No time? blue News summarizes for you The Israeli-American psychologist Daniel Kahneman chose assisted suicide in Switzerland on March 27, 2024.The Nobel Prize winner wanted to forestall a phase of mental and physical decline.His final step was well-considered - and yet difficult for many to understand. In March 2024, Daniel Kahneman celebrated his 90th birthday - surrounded by his partner Barbara Tversky, his daughter and her family in Paris. The Israeli-American psychologist strolled through the city, visited museums and the ballet, enjoyed soufflés and chocolate mousse. They were days full of life.But towards the end of his stay, Kahneman began to send a personal message to close friends: a farewell email. On March 26, he left his family and flew to Zurich. One day later, he died by assisted suicide.In the email, he wrote openly about his decision, as theWall Street Journalhas now revealed: He was convinced that the suffering and humiliations of old age were superfluous - and that it was now time to go.He wanted to "forestall natural decline, not slip helplessly into a state" that he himself had experienced with his mother, his wife Anne Treisman and other loved ones. His partner died in 2018 as a result of vascular dementia. The loss affected him deeply.Kahneman wanted to preserve his autonomy until the endAlthough Daniel Kahneman neither suffered from dementia nor required dialysis, he said he noticed an "increase in mental lapses and a decline in his kidney function".His decision seems to have been based less on his famous scientific thinking and more on a very personal feeling. He wanted to retain his autonomy until the end and to shape his own end.Kahneman knew that many would see his decision ...