An Essay on the Definition of Death: Philosophy and Humanities

This essay delves into the multifaceted definition of death, exploring its biological and philosophical dimensions. It examines the cessation of life processes, drawing on the perspective of the humanities. The essay references the documentary "A Certain Kind of Death" to illustrate scenarios and consequences of death, and discusses the ethical implications of death. The author explores the concept of death from the perspective of the body failing to function normally, highlighting the emotional and social impacts of death, and considering the cultural and religious perspectives. The essay emphasizes the importance of understanding death as a fundamental aspect of the human experience and provides insights into its implications for individuals and societies.

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Definition of Death
Death can be defined as cessation of the biological processes which sustains living
organisms. There are various cases of death as portrayed in the “A certain kind of death”
documentary comprising of mysterious illness and accidentally falling from high places.
Human death is considered to be painful as they are only creatures on earth which have the
capacity of redefining itself (Williams, 192). Death is responsible for declining human
population globally. However, in most many parts the human population keeps on increasing
as the birth rate is higher than the mortality rate. From the art of being human, the humanities
as a technique for living, death can be defined in biological terms. Death or loss of life
happens when heart which is responsible for pumping blood to all parts of the body comes to
a standstill. In such a scenario, brains cease to perform its functions. When blood fails to
reach all parts of the body, it starts rotting. “Death can be as a result of various phenomena
such as aging, predation, malnutrition, accidents, trauma, dehydration, homicide and suicide
amongst others” (Janaro & Altshuler, 39). “In humanity, death is considered to be sad and
unpleasant due to the affection of the dead” (Janaro & Altshuler, 37). The termination of
social and familial bonds with the deceased results to the unpleasant feeling. In humanity,
death is feared as it is closely associated with emotional pain. The perception differs
concerning culture and religion beliefs. Although there are various definitions of death such
as moral and cultural perspectives, biological fully describes death as it outlines the body
functions.

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According to Richard and Altshuler argument on humanities as a technique for living,
death happens when the body fails to function in its normal processes (Williams, 192). The
typical process involves appropriate biological body functions which keep people alive. As it
is evident in the “A certain Kind of Death” film, an explanation of what happens after one
dies and no one claims their body is provided. From the argument presented in the film, one
can also define death as a situation where the brains and the entire body stops functioning.
The body therefore has to be taken care by the relatives as they prepare it for burial. In cases
where there are no available people to claim the body, it is buried in unmarked grave.

Surname 3
Works Cited
Janaro, Richard Paul, Thelma C. Altshuler, and Gertrude Kraut. The art of being human: the
humanities as a technique for living. Harper & Row, 1984.
Williams, Stephen N. "The Death of Humanity and the Case for Life." Ethics & Medicine
32.3 (2016): 192.
Havoctrend. “A Certain Kind Of Death - Documentary.” YouTube, YouTube, 22 Oct. 2012,
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErooOhzE268.