The term, “death” is used freely to describe the concept of cessation of life. To die is to cease to exist. Yet, is ceasing to exist measured in terms of physical deterioration or the termination mental capabilities.
Dictionary and legal definitions shed some light, describing it as, “the permanent end of all life functions in an organism or part of an organism.”
Or the statutory definition in my state jurisdiction:
(a) irreversible cessation of all function of the brain of the person; or
(b) irreversible cessation of circulation of blood in the body of the person.
Yet, even this is somewhat ambiguous and seems to relate only to the physical functions of organs in preventing death, thus sustaining life. Although arguably “function of the brain” may be interpreted as embodying mental/thought processes. This raises questions as to what the function is, some degree of neuron activity or much more - independent thought process and memory retention? (What does this say about the so-called “brain-dead” or mentally impaired? Are they, in a sense, half dead?)
Is life that simple, so that we may say we are systemically composed? Why is that system so fragile, that once shut down, can rarely be rebooted? To speak in terms of functionality - operational capabilities likened a machine, is somewhat impersonal and dehumanizing. Yet, is it conceited to think of ourselves as anything more than a well built machine?
Do we have characteristics that determine death beyond the physical? Is there an essence or soul that ultimately determines the end of life? If there is such an essence, at what point does it leave the body? Is the body a mere shell – a shell displaced after death?
I find it hard to believe that death is merely physical. I think there must be more to it, yet the concept of a “soul” raises as many inexplicable notions and unanswerable questions as the original question itself. Is death so hard to explain in any meaningful way, that we must just accept that death is death, so just get on with life?
Anyway, this was all just on my mind. Anyone else got any thoughts on death?
Dictionary and legal definitions shed some light, describing it as, “the permanent end of all life functions in an organism or part of an organism.”
Or the statutory definition in my state jurisdiction:
(a) irreversible cessation of all function of the brain of the person; or
(b) irreversible cessation of circulation of blood in the body of the person.
Yet, even this is somewhat ambiguous and seems to relate only to the physical functions of organs in preventing death, thus sustaining life. Although arguably “function of the brain” may be interpreted as embodying mental/thought processes. This raises questions as to what the function is, some degree of neuron activity or much more - independent thought process and memory retention? (What does this say about the so-called “brain-dead” or mentally impaired? Are they, in a sense, half dead?)
Is life that simple, so that we may say we are systemically composed? Why is that system so fragile, that once shut down, can rarely be rebooted? To speak in terms of functionality - operational capabilities likened a machine, is somewhat impersonal and dehumanizing. Yet, is it conceited to think of ourselves as anything more than a well built machine?
Do we have characteristics that determine death beyond the physical? Is there an essence or soul that ultimately determines the end of life? If there is such an essence, at what point does it leave the body? Is the body a mere shell – a shell displaced after death?
I find it hard to believe that death is merely physical. I think there must be more to it, yet the concept of a “soul” raises as many inexplicable notions and unanswerable questions as the original question itself. Is death so hard to explain in any meaningful way, that we must just accept that death is death, so just get on with life?
Anyway, this was all just on my mind. Anyone else got any thoughts on death?
when did he do this? what is it? my whole perspective's just changed 