Posted by EngineeringProfit > 2 months ago | Report Abuse

Organismal consciousness should no longer be the sole determinant of life: While the cessation of consciousness has been the dominant determinant of death in higher organisms (like humans) for ages, we should have learned by now that it is not the sole determinant of life. The life of an organism literally persists as long as its cells or organs continue their functions, even if the brain is no longer active.

Posted by EngineeringProfit > 2 months ago | Report Abuse

Distributed biological functions: If we move away from the anthropocentric and archaiec view of death being defined by the cessation of brain function, we can explore the idea that life may be more distributed. In this view, life isn't centralized in a particular organ (e.g., the brain) but rather distributed across many cells and tissues that contribute to the overall vitality of the organism.

Posted by EngineeringProfit > 2 months ago | Report Abuse

Cellular life as part of organismal life: If cells are considered the fundamental units of life, and many cells in the organism remain alive and capable of functioning, how can the organism be truly "dead"? The argument here is that as long as the foundational units of life (cells) persist, there remains an aspect of the organism that is still living.

Posted by EngineeringProfit > 2 months ago | Report Abuse

Concept of Distributed Consciousness and Life: There are several anecdotal reports and case studies where organ recipients have experienced changes in personality, habits, or preferences after receiving an organ transplant. While these cases are intriguing, they remain controversial, and no definitive scientific explanation has been universally accepted. This phenomenon is sometimes referred to as "cellular memory theory," which suggests that memories, preferences, or traits can be stored in the cells of organs, such as the heart, lungs, or liver, and potentially transferred to the recipient.

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Claire Sylvia Case (Heart and Lung Transplant)
- Story: Claire Sylvia received a heart and lung transplant in 1988 from an 18-year-old male donor who had died in a motorcycle accident. After the transplant, she began craving foods she had never liked before, such as beer, green peppers, and chicken nuggets, which were some of the donor’s favorites. She also noticed changes in her behavior and personality, feeling more masculine and adventurous.
- Outcome: Sylvia documented her experiences in her book 'A Change of Heart' (1997), which popularized the idea of organ transplants transferring traits or memories.

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Sonny Graham Case (Heart Transplant)
- Story: In 1995, Sonny Graham received the heart of Terry Cottle, who had died by suicide. After the transplant, Graham contacted Cottle’s widow to thank her and eventually fell in love with her. They married years later. However, in a tragic turn, Graham also died by suicide in a manner similar to Cottle.
- Outcome: This case added to the fascination with cellular memory and raised questions about emotional and psychological transfers via organs.

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William Sheridan Case (Heart Transplant)
- Story: William Sheridan, a man who received a heart transplant, noticed that after the surgery, his preferences changed dramatically. He developed a love for classical music, which he had previously disliked. He later discovered that his donor had been a fan of classical music.
- Outcome: Sheridan’s case is often cited as evidence of personality changes after an organ transplant

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George Walton Case (Kidney Transplant) : George Walton, who received a kidney transplant, reported that after the procedure, his sense of humor shifted, and he became more easygoing and humorous. He attributed these changes to his donor’s personality traits.

Posted by EngineeringProfit > 2 months ago | Report Abuse

Cellular Memory & Consciousness Hypothesis: This theory proposes that memories, behaviors, or traits are stored in cells throughout the body, not just in the brain. Therefore, when an organ is transplanted, some of this cellular memory might be transferred to the recipient.

Posted by EngineeringProfit > 2 months ago | Report Abuse

Cellular life as part of organismal life: If cells are considered the fundamental units of life, and many cells in the organism remain alive and capable of functioning, how can the organism be truly "dead"? The argument here is that as long as the foundational units of life (cells) persist, there remains an aspect of the organism that is still living.

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SYMBIOSIS: Interdependent life systems: It is possible to argue that death is not an event, but a process, where different parts of the organism fail at different rates. During this process, as long as some biological systems are functioning, even partially, the organism could still retain some degree of life.

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Organism as a sum of parts: From a holistic perspective, the organism can be viewed as a collective of living cells and tissues. If some parts of the collective remain alive, then one could argue the organism as a whole is not completely dead. The continuity of life in some parts of the organism (e.g., skin, organs) may suggest that the organism is not dead in an absolute sense

Posted by EngineeringProfit > 3 weeks ago | Report Abuse

IN HYPERMODERN ERA, life and death should not be binary states. The idea that an organism is either fully alive or dead may be too simplistic. Life could be viewed as a continuum, where different degrees or levels of biological activity define the "aliveness" of an organism. If some cells or tissues within the organism continue functioning, it may suggest that the organism still retains some vestiges of life.