Death
From myth to the laboratory
Death is a biological event which forms an
essential part of culture. All human societies have attributed some
meaning to death in myth, religion, philosophy or science. The
various forms of art have also represented death as an essential
part of the human condition. This article discusses the cultural,
social and medical constructions of death, starting with the origin
myth and the contradiction between death and eternal life. It
explores funeral rites and parish registers, examines death as an
important social phenomenon in modern societies and considers the
meaning of civil registries as instruments of social identity and
legitimacy. Finally, it reflects on medicine’s power over death,
death’s biological dimension and attempts to objectify signs of
death.
Article outline
- 1.A cultural construction: Origin myths and eternal life
- 2.Death as a social event: From the parish to the civil registry
- 3.Death as a biological phenomenon: How to objectify signs of death
- 4.The medicalization of death
- 5.The impact of technology
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Bibliography