Abstract
The concept of irreversibility plays a central role in most discussions of how to understand and determine human death. This seems to relativize death, since the possibilities of reversal will always depend on circumstance. I discuss the conceptual problems created by this fact, arguing that their seriousness depends on whether we take our conception of death to be a definition or criterion. Relativity is probably not fatal in a definition of death; it might even be desirable in a policy criterion. The concept of permanence is no less philosophically problematic in this context than irreversibility.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 275-281 |
Journal | Reviews in the Neurosciences |
Volume | 20 |
Issue number | 3-4 |
Publication status | Published - 2009 |
Event | 5th International Symposium of the Definition of Death Network - Varadero Beach, Cuba Duration: 2008 May 20 → 2008 May 23 |
Subject classification (UKÄ)
- Neurosciences
Free keywords
- permanence
- relativity
- irreversibility
- criteria
- death
- definitions