Is Death Irreversible?

IF 1.3 3区 哲学 Q3 ETHICS Journal of Medicine and Philosophy Pub Date : 2023-09-14 DOI:10.1093/jmp/jhad027
Nada Gligorov
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引用次数: 1

Abstract

There are currently two legally established criteria for death: the irreversible cessation of circulation and respiration and the irreversible cessation of neurologic function. Recently, there have been technological developments that could undermine the irreversibility requirement. In this paper, I focus both on whether death should be identified as an irreversible state and on the proper scope of irreversibility in the biological definition of death. In this paper, I tackle the distinction between the commonsense definition of death and the biological definition of death to show that even the commonsense concept of death is specified by biological facts. Resting on this argument, I argue that any definition of death is a posteriori. Thus, irreversibility is part of any definition of death because the actual phenomenon of death is irreversible. In addition, I show that the proper domain of irreversibility in a definition of death is circumscribed by physical possibilities and that irreversibility in the definition of death refers to current possibilities for the reversal of relevant biological processes. I conclude that, despite recent technological advancements, death is still irreversible.

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死亡不可逆转吗?
目前有两个法定的死亡标准:血液循环和呼吸不可逆转地停止,以及神经功能不可逆转地停止。最近,一些技术发展可能会破坏不可逆性要求。在本文中,我关注的是死亡是否应该被确定为一种不可逆状态,以及在死亡的生物学定义中不可逆性的适当范围。在本文中,我处理了死亡的常识性定义和死亡的生物学定义之间的区别,以表明即使是常识性的死亡概念也是由生物学事实指定的。基于这个论点,我认为任何关于死亡的定义都是事后的。因此,不可逆性是任何死亡定义的一部分,因为死亡的实际现象是不可逆的。此外,我还指出,死亡定义中不可逆性的适当范围受到物理可能性的限制,而死亡定义中的不可逆性指的是当前相关生物过程逆转的可能性。我的结论是,尽管最近的技术进步,死亡仍然是不可逆转的。
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来源期刊
CiteScore
2.90
自引率
6.20%
发文量
30
期刊介绍: This bimonthly publication explores the shared themes and concerns of philosophy and the medical sciences. Central issues in medical research and practice have important philosophical dimensions, for, in treating disease and promoting health, medicine involves presuppositions about human goals and values. Conversely, the concerns of philosophy often significantly relate to those of medicine, as philosophers seek to understand the nature of medical knowledge and the human condition in the modern world. In addition, recent developments in medical technology and treatment create moral problems that raise important philosophical questions. The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy aims to provide an ongoing forum for the discussion of such themes and issues.
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