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Ss03-1 Introduction To The Philosophy of The Human Person
Ss03-1 Introduction To The Philosophy of The Human Person
Ss03-1 Introduction To The Philosophy of The Human Person
Legal-Medical Definition
Religious Definition
Existential Definition
Cardio-Pulmonary-
Based
Neurological
Definition
SS03-1 INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON 8
Why is there no single legal-
medical definition of death?
Scientific and technological
advancement
• False-Appearance of Life
• Brain-based Definition
• Retaining intact neurological hardware needed for
consciousness
“A Definition of
Irreversible Coma”
The Journal of
American Medical
Association
(August 1968)
SS03-1 INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON 12
Justification for the
Redefinition
PROPOR-
TIONATE TO
MORAL
STATUS
DEATH CYCLICAL
PERSONAL
Bhagavad gita:
“Just as a man discards worn out clothes and
puts on new clothes, the soul discards worn
out bodies and ears new ones.” (2.22)
• Suicide
• Euthanasia
• Abortion
26
Abortion
• The abortion debate asks whether it can be morally right
to terminate a pregnancy before normal childbirth.
• Some people think that abortion is always wrong. Some
think that abortion is right when the mother's life is at
risk. Others think that there is a range of circumstances in
which abortion is morally acceptable.