the natureof life the nature death

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5<2)i133-14S (]9U3}

Natureof Life and the Nature of Death

IS3

[Invlted Article, I.ecture)

Chandler McCuskey BROOiiS

Distinguished Profbssor, State C,Jniveasiip' of A'eu)`Vew }lork, N. T, J12C13 U. S.A.

York, l)ownstate tt4kdical Center.

Abstract :Life is dcfined as a "condition"

that distinguishes animats and p[ants from inorganic matcrials

and dead organisms. Lifl] is cornprised of processes and is a maintaincd statc. 'rhe

most

sophisticatcd form ofiife is man and our thought focuscs upon the nature ofthe Iife imd dcathof man. )dan demonstrates threc lives or aspects of 1{fc/ Life of the body-the physical, lifeof the mind and life of the spirit. Physical life is bas{c existence; the mind contribuLes

efiltctiveness and scope; thc spirituai entity contributes maximum living,

Pfp,siology : The existence of life physical is dcmonstraLcd b>･ the presence of

functions. I.iving tissues and organisms exhibit: 1> Irritability: the abirity Lo be excited or

detect stimuli and to responcl lhereto; 2 ) Growth ancl reproduction : this consists ol' the powerof rnultiplication and duplication, regencration and diflbrcntiatioii; 3) Adaptability ] permit-ting both change and maintenance of balanccs {homcostasis): and finally ancl most characterig-

tic of a]1 is 4) Metabolism : the transformation of energy and the use of matcrials,

'Fhesc

propertics, howcN,cr, can bc retained for a whilc by tissues aftttr death of the organism so thcrc

is another Triystery of lii'e whlch we understand enly in part. Life consists of structure and

processes operating under intcgrative control, 'l'his

integratiN,e power is thc secret wc do not

undcrstand･-we know it con{'crs all the life properties, the continuoiJs flow of processes related

to the erganisin's ncc(i for survival. Death is failurc not so much of proccss but of intcgra-

tive drivc and coordination-but, of cc')urse, structure and proccss can {'ail too, clcstroying

inLegrated actix.ity,

The total organism is uncler intcgrative control by hrain and mind, the autonomic ner-

vous system and by the neuroendocrine-endocrine coniplex, all acLing in unisori. 'I'hese

physical proccsscs contribute to the cxistencc of the lift: ot' the minci and spirit and arc in turn

powerfully affccted by intcllect and moralc. Hnwevcr, we do not understamd the driving

force which converts inorganic matter, organizes it and then propels it into life. Lift' secms

to bc only a continuation of a heritagc-life creating lifc/.

Philesoplp, : 1'he ]ife ef the rnind requires acquisitien of' know}edge, curiosity, cultivation of

the powcr to reason, use of thought and contemplation, aU under disciPtine. True life of the

mind may not exist and may ccasc to be evcn though physical existence inay be prcsent.

Somcwhat the same can be said of the ]ife of' the spirit; it also is not automatically

genetically grantccl in complcted form. It is comprjsed of $ympathy, acquircd apprcciation,

vision of what rnight be, the search for thc ultimatc, It, too, is more mortal and can failbefore death terminates physical existcnce. Thc life of the min[l and spirit enables man to

devclop cultures. Cultures, in turn, become major lbrces in the deterrnination of the quaiityof life of men. CulLures can deteriorate and die, a heritagc not sustained, and with this

failure therc is dcath of maxitnum lii,ing-man bcrcomes merely an existing physica] animal

ag'ain. Death comes in man), forms and from many c'auscs. It is a responsibiLity of man to

sustain ]ife. The scientist chicfl}, that of thc body and mind, the phi]osophcr chiefly that of

the mind and spirit. The good physician treats man, not his parts alone. He is responsi-

bie fbr $ustaining agl three forms of Iife-body, mind and spirit. Death of any onc tcnds to



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134

Kqy

C, M. BRooKs

terminatc all others, Is therc an immortalitv-life bcvond death? Therc are immortalitics t t

and th{s is rhe final secret to be learned. The life of the teacher, the good man, physician ls

like the wind and the rains of spring which bring life ancw froTn the dcad earth. Life

physicat and of the mind and spirit can be a continuum not terminatcd by death of the

individual's physical parr.

words : life, death, integrarion, mind, sprit,

(Lecture: 30 October l982)

Preface

There are very many practical ethical, sociological and psychological problems which

must be faced by those who deal with life and death and must hclp people meet this latter

contingency. My approach is more philosophical than immediately practical. I shall

attempt to define the spectrum of life and the nature of death. I shall make some

analyses but also attempt some totalistic thought concerning matters for which there are

no known answers.

This is an age of analytical and reductionist thought. The scientist seeks the minutia

of structure and of functional process to find the secret of life. Thus, he probes bayond its

essence and discovers only its parts, lt is indeed unique to find a school and a course in

which science is combined with philosophy in search for understanding of totalities such as

the nature of man, the {'undamental organized life forces and what terminates them in

death. This endeavor is a worth>, challenge to scho}arship-man's encleavor to uncler-

stand himseifi I appreciate your thought that I might penetrate to some degree the

grcatest of all mysteries-the nature of life and the nature ofdeath. I should like to start

this discourse by presenting two definitions of life.

First, however, I should like to acknowledge that I am again honored by being the

guest of President Kenzaburo Tsuchiya of this impressive institution, by Dr. Yukio Ito the

organizer of the course who asked me to present my concepts, and by･ Professor Hiroshi

Yamashita my, sponsor.

Introduction : Definitions

1. Webster's unabridged dictionary defines life as the C[conditioni'

that distinguishes

animals and plants from inorganic matter and dead organisms. Elsewhere this unique

"condition" is described as consisting of

4Cdistinguishing phenomena," Life is a condition

identiped ij? phenomena. The problem of understanding life requires comprehension of the

condition, the life phenemena-their origin. Death is identified by cessation of these

phenomena and destruction of the living condition,

The first implication of this thought is that iijb is a maintained phenomenon, Death is

the coilapse of the sustaining process-in death there is no intake, no output-it is a null




The Naturc of Life and the Nature ofDeath 135

state-the body becomes matter, mere substance.

2, The life and death with which we are concerned is that of MAN. To be sure,

the earthworm, the eel, the bird and the bear also live and die, but the cycle of their

existence is onl>r a shadow of that displayed by man. Wc thus shall consider man, the

most sophisticatecl form of life ever created. Some things said will he applicable to all

forms ef life but others will pertain only to the unique properties of MAN, iredFanis lijb has

matg), attributes ; il4ants lifa is more than mere existence of animate matter.

The Nature of Life

There are three lives passessed by man and I have expressed this thought in dia-

gramatic forrn.

Diagram l: Components of LijZ,

Normally in considering life and death "'e think only of the basic physical-the

existence of life in the body. This might be called the animal-man. Some men seem

little more than animals in their behavior and capabilities. But what is lij2i pllysical-howis it identijied? I will deal with that question soon, but I wish first to propose other

questlons.

Man possesses an ability, an entity, we call the mind, This contributes scope and

tfactiveness to life i the power to learn complicated things, power to remember, pewer to

reason and understand, desire to know, the ability to preject into the future, It contri-

butes a life far superior to that attained by any ether form or by animalistic man.

Pd,Zat generates the lijk of the mind and wlp does the tip of the mind so qf}en die?

A third life is that of the spirit. I.ife of body and mind are basic to this quality that

is comprised of .v,mpatlp, Zove of beauty, vision of good and what might be, consciousness qf

responsibility for others. Men of all time have sensed an essence in life, a determinative

essence which they have termed the spirit of man. The spiritual can be deveioped but

it, as an entity, can also die. The spirit has either not been born or has died in the

The nature of life

Life of the body- Life of rhe Life of the

physieal = mind = spir'it

l l i Existence EffectuaHife Maxirnum living

xx l /

Contributien to the osscnce

I)iagram I



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136 C. M. BRooKs

criminals of the world. In some culture men relate this presencc of spirit to a percttivcd

essence in life they call God-the:p say the spirit is God in man.

N'Vhat resources do the nzind and ,vbirit contribute to the attainment of high quality of

life, physical as well as cultural, and to the ability to face death and not be de{'eated

therebv? '

'rhesc

questions pertain to the nature oflife and dcath. It is, hoxsiever, log.ical to first

discuss the nature of basic ph}'sical before struggling with the super powers of man.

CA] Ph.ysical L(fh: The questlon-how do we know lifc exists-what are its

characteristics? This is basic ph},,siology. A second diagram shows the properties-thccharactcristics of lifc: they are -fitnctions.

Diagram fl i Properties of' Lijb

1. X,Ve know something' is living if it responds to a stirriulus, This characteristic is

callecl irritabiliij). It is present in all body, parts although there are specializecl sensors:

the eye, the ear, the pressure-touch corpuscles. "Je have cells specialized for sensing and

cells specialized for respending. <contracting, secr ¢ Ling).

You all know that cells build and sustain membranes and the membrane confers

excitability. The merribrane has a sustained state of sclective pc:rmeability and a polariza-tion charg'e. t t

W'e can use a microelectrode to rec;ord the state of a membrane-it is polarized with

a charge of 70-100 millivoits. This we cail resting potential and it reveals the respon-

siveness of the cell-if thc potential i$ too Low, it is unresponsive. X･Vhen we apply

[r'ritftbililx,

Growth and

Adapzabillty

Ba]aii{/e and

beIetabolis]n

The ident'IficaLinri of life

,l v

Bv iL.s funct.iotis

1 Excirubility and Lhe nbilitv to r'espond

reproduction 1 N'lulLiplicativti and duplicaLion

Regener'alion and repair

DIffere-tiation

I AdjustmenL te change and r'equivemer)t

homeosl.asis

: The c"nvet'sion of cnergy

The use ef materials

Diagram ]



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f['he

Naturc'/ ot' Life' and the Nature of Dcalh t37

stimuli which excite by depolarization we perceive a resista,nce on the part of the cell-a

threshold degrce of depolarization must be created to excite, The cell is not

passive. Heart ccils, nervc cells, Jnuscle cells, secretory cel]s all show similar resistive

and adaptive and responsc preperties.

Application of a stimulus of suMcient (threshold) strength evokes an electrical re-

sponse-an action potential-a spreading dcpolarization and a recovery. Some cells,

pacemakers, show intrinsic activity-a rhythm c)f depolarization and repolarization inde-

pendent of application of extcrnal energy.

If the cell is a cardiac or skeletal muscle cell, the electrical response triggers a

contraction; in secretory cells, a secretion. X'Ve call this excitation-contraction coupling,

excitation-secretion coupling.

The point I emphasize is that the ceil reacts as a sustained and organized

unit. Thus, the membrane state confers life but the cell creates, sustains and repairs its

own membrane, So l(fa coqfars irritability and is idkntpted b.v irritabigity.

2. Groifpth and Roproduction : Trees grow, grass grow's, animals grow, wounds heal, life

has the power of regeneration, duplication (sex is a drive to duplicate),

detl'erentiation. The cell restores its membrane or builds new membrane -this

requires

synthesis- the buitding of the neiv, 71his is grou)th and roproduction, Death anihilates growth-dead matter does not grow or reproduce itsel£

3. Adopiabigit.? ] I read just a few days ago that a little minnow-the killifish-adapts

to cold and hot water. Those that live in the north have more enzyme of a

type, Thcy can swim faster and }onger at top speed than can their southern relatives

with less enzyme, but the enzyme oi' the southern fish is less easily destroyed by heat so

they do betrer in the tropical ternperature than do their northern relatives. XNJe all adapt

to changing physical and socio-political states and thus survive. Adaptability is another

of the unique characteristics of living tissue. Jt is a mq7'or ingredient qf' success and aicts in the

avoidance of death.

4, Batance and Homeostasis: Change is essential but so is a degree of constance which

must be maintained. Both require elaborate integrative actions, Let us consider, for

example, the complex chain of reactions involved in maintenance of a relative constant

blood sugar levei; the prevention of diabetes and of hypoglycemic convulsions,

Liver and muscles store glucose as glycogen when there is an excess. X,Vhen blood

sugar levels fa11, gluconeogenesis occurs ffom storcd glycogen, Insulin from the pancreasliberatcd undcr neural and direct glucosc drive aids in metabolism and

storage. Glucagon is released to prevent hypoglycemia. Practicakly all endocrine

glands as well as the nervous system are involved in maintaining carbehydrate

balances, In the Chinese and Greek heritage ef medicine-health is lit'e in 'balance

and

disease is imbalance.

5, Metabolism: The basic process of life i$ its metabolism-the conversion of use of

cnergy and specific materials. NVe recognize its presence by liberation ef heat andlor use




138 C, ),I. BRooKs

of energy sourccs and materials.

What triggers and drives metabolism is a secret of life. When metabolism ceases

due to poisoning of its enzymes, to absence of materials or energy sources-life

ceases, Death occurs, Hunger is a signal of metabolic need-also a warning against

an approach to death.

We know that each individual requires some 2500 calories per day and very well

defined quantities of proteins, fats, minerais and vitamins if our rnetabolism is to be

sustained and our life and normal actixity is to continue,

Yet death of the body occurs before metabolic activity in many cells ceases. Death

is caused usually by cessation of metabolism in the few cells responsibie for delivery of

materiais needed-respiratory center and heart. tl4etabotism is the most fandamental kev to

lijb and ,failure of' metabotism is death.

Respiratory machines and artificial pumps can maintain something resembling life in

the body, But is a body passive, uncontrolled by inclependent mind and spirit,

living? Existence of these 5 properties of life does not guite eapZain its nature or

origin. Death identifies their absence but what starts the fZow of'Processes that coitf2ir these

proPerties? NVhat develeps the essential integrative control? This is cenferred by

heredity. I.ife does not start de novo from inanimate matter-man struggles to create

life and has many myths and scientific theories as to how it may have occurred, but as of

now life comes only from life. '

To summarize-let us take a look at another analysis of life as made by the

reductionist, N"v"hat is essential?

Diagram III: PlpsicaX Ltfk

The morphologist seeks the ultimate component of structure; the biochemist and the

physiologist seek the ultimate process, They speak of membranes, sodium-calcium chan-

nels, ionic fluxes, molecular and cnzymatic reactions, But they probe beyond the secret

of life,

7)he l7irst Secret of LijZi : It is the intagrative fitnction that comprises the essenoe of lijb-the cell

produces the membrane, the membrane controls the ceil, Cells combine to from the

organ, organ systems comprise the body. Integrativc control is essential if the parts are

to serve the whole, Integrative control confers life upon organic tissues, thus the nature

and origin of integrative control as a secret of life-the structure of the control system can

be diagrammed.

Diagram IV: 71he Control El)istem

Description of what is known of the interactive control occurring within cells, organs,

the body as a whole would be a tremendous undertaking but a requirement fbr the

comprehension of the nature of life.

Thus we have living materials organized by control mechanism prefbrming integrated

function-this results in life. Destruction or failure of integrative control as well as

failure or process results in death of the organism and even the cell. This is the first secret.




'I'hc Nature ofl.if'c and theNature ef Death IB9

Thecomponentsoi physica] ]lfe

InLegr'at,ix,e

Structurai potentia}ity

J The fEow of processcs

J Integrative controL

, Life

c/{)ntro] of proeesses and the

Diagram M

tota]ity

L2,Inherent

Intrinsic

l) Thc2)

The3)

The

The first sec:ret of life

bztegrative activns and controt

integrative control of the cellular leve]

inLegrative contrel ol c]rgan systems and the

hierareh.v in the aentral nem･'ous system

autonomlc nervous $ystom

neuroendocr'ine - endoerine systems

Diagram ]l

individual

(B] Reeuirements for Lijii of the Mind and the opirit Mind and spirit confer scope and quality. The mind bypasses the barriers of time

and space and the spirit cenfers purpose and great adaptability. A diagram may be

used to summarize the concept.

Diagram V: Zhe Reeuirementsfor Lijb

This portrays the contributions of the mind and spirit to life, Failure of the spirit

reduces the scope and quality and resiliance ef life. Failure of the mind and its contribu-

tiens reduces man to animalistic levels of existence-the pure physical.

The major point I wish te make is that the physicai, the mental, the spiritual are

mutually dependent, Together they can create an environment which greatly the peten-tial of man for life-life of the mind and spirit-most efi'ectively.

In order to attain lijle of the mind and sPirit man had to create a favorable llfle condition-a

.fiivorable environment, a culture, 71his, Perhops, is a secend secret of lijb,

Dzagram

This

TheRole

Zl: Chrlture Dofned

diagram defines what I

andEffects of a

refer to as cu

Culture

lture - highculture.Menhavedeveloped



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14e C. M.BROOKs

Thc r'equ{, ]'ernents r-r [ ,/ fe

1. C)i' the miT'/cl

KiLowlcdge

Curiositx'

The euLLix,ation of rcason

'I']

o culLIyatiun [)f thouglit and

DisuipLinu

Lt. Of the spir'il

Synipath.v

.nLI)I)T'CC/iELtiOrl

Aeceptanee of responsibili i.v

Vi.sion ot' what might be

'Fhe

searc/h fer the ultiTnate

Diagram V

contemplazion

'1'he

soc//io ･

'['hat

The cL]ltuyc/ of

{'/xistence

! eI')

r'ini itiv" rnan

Tho c,ulture ef

Lhe ph.v･ lj icaL

･Objcc.Livc, : Te sur'vive ar/d

te acquit'e /1 goods and po",e]' 1/

Diagram VI

Ct･itture dei'ined

political and ph),sical eT",lromuent

mall er'eates and lives in

.X'Iaxirnal eultural

aUainrnenl.

,The sophistiratefl LiE'e

The cu]Lur'e of zhe mi/id

and spirit

lObiective: To live

maxima]l.v

a number of distinct cultures of high quality, . All of them are determinative in view of

the nature and potential of life. All defme the nature and significance of death:

Oriental C,ultures -

Chinese, Japanese Hindu Cultures of India and Indonesia

Islamic Culturc of the Near East

rv{ayan Culture (Western) No", Dead

Western Culture : Greek, Hebrew, Germanic (European) Christian Culture

Diagram VUI: 71he Components qfa Culture

This describes the components determinative of a culture's nature, It also shows

the powcr of cultures to bc determinatix,e of the qualities of the life of man.

What determines whethcr or not the mind and spirit will develop normally or fail to



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The Nature of I,lfb and the Naturc c)I' Death ]41

dcveiop? Of course, there is a genetic determinism of the ability of body and the mind

although this is not accepted by many. Regardless of whether or not some men lack the

genetic equipment for high intelligence, it is probably the cultural environment they live in

and create which is determinative of their attainrrient. At any rate, it (culture) appears

to be equally important and probably more determinative. The mind will not develop in

an animalistic surrounding devoid of enrichmcnt by mental activity and idealism of purpose,

71he second secret of lijb is the determinism of the cultural environment evogving .from the oforts ofman to Produce maximum lijb. il4an lives in tzvo environments,

Diagram P7U: Cuttures-7')Se Second Secret of Ltfa

By saying a high culture promotes life I mean all three aspects of life-even physicalhealth. Failure of a culture mcans collapse of society and all its ability to provide safety,

health and the stimulus fbr maxirnum Iiving.

This secret of life is to preserN'e the culture your ancestors created fbr you especially if

it is a good one. lvzProv/e it and preserve it, advance it but be very careful what you

adopt from elscwhere.

The natur(.t of a c'ulLur'e

rts eornposiLion and quality as deLet'rnined b},

Izs re]igion

Its svstem of ethics "

Its educational sysLem and its object{ves

'l'he

atLainment irt the aris and literature

The qualit>., of its ]eader$hip

The state of Lhe masses

its deterrnini$m relative to ]ife

Its r'olc in cleveloping thc inin(f

H,s socio - spfi i'itual contribution to the qualiLy of life

Its role in defining lnd[vidual and col]eetivE}

r{/sponsibi]ity for the thrce ]ives

Diagram VIr

A secDnd secrct of ]ile

Man lives in t.wo environments

1. That of the physieal world -･hich he either

protects or destroys

2, That of his culturc,, "'hic/h he eiLher

advanees or permits Lo disintegrate

Preservation of cu]ture promotes lifc; itsdestruction hastens death

1)iagram wn




142

This raises the question of resp

but before concluding that thought

death.

onsiI

C. )v{, BRooKs

biZity: Life is

should like intrinsically and

tQ say somethingextrinsically

sustained

about the nature of

The Nature of Death

Diagram LY: Zhe IVdture of' Death

This diagram illustrates the thought that life can be diminished and then

ended. There can be dcath of the spirit, death of the mind without physical disintegra-

tion and death ol' the bodv as an ultimate. i

The competent physician knows that spirit and mind have great healing power which

is mysterious in its action. Determination and wish to live and desire to accomplish

something will not prevent death but they have strength to resist it. If this is so, then

the physician has responsibility to aid the spirit, the mind as will as treating the body.

Can death be defeated? Is there an immortality? There is in my culture. 7'72is

is a 3rd secret qf lofb-attainment of immortality and victory over death.

Diagram X: Concopts of Immertality

1. Physical death cannot forever be defeated, Yet, the body does return to mother

earth and enters the chain of life. This concept of immortality gives little cornfort.

2. The contributions of the mind confer a more satisfactory immortality; they are

preserved in man's accumulated knowiedge fi/om which new knowledge grows. Some

men will be long remembered for the accomplishments of their minds.

3, 1'here is an immortality in ones culture-if one has preserved and contributed to

it'

4, Therc is an immortality contributed by the spirit. This is an immortality con-

ferred by an alliance with the good-one does not desire the immortality of evil, Some

speak of immortality as a return to God-the creator, the sustainer of the spirit of good,

To be sure, individuality, and name may be lost but if what one works for is immortal '-so

ls man,

Death is from disuse, isolation from th ¢ flow of life, lack of involverncnt in physical,

mental spiritual living. Life is cyclical and death of the body, of the cell is inevitable

but there are ways of making it a fu1fi11ment, not a defeat.

1 have two more thoughts as

1. Responsibility fbr life and

Diagram M: M,ihe is Responsible

This presents a concept of our

for reducing the pain of death.

Conclusion

I conclude this

death

several

adventure.

responsibilitie$ fbr thepreservatlonof life and



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TheNatureofLifeand thc Naturc of Death 143

The nature ef deatl]

Decath of the DeaLh of the

b

spirit mind

".t-.t. t-

i I.oss of l.oss of

qualir}, usefulness

L t'r" "'

'--.

tt t..

[)eath of the

})ody ' phy, sicai

- --J

Lvss of ph},sical

exlstence

.--

Diagram M

A third secret of life

Concepts of immortaltty

The physiea]: Dust to dust returneth: The life c}

de.at,h ma]tes life possible

The contribution to know]edge and intellecLual

aspivations

Jmmortaiity by contribution to the eultural h{,'i'itage

'I'he

irnmorta]iL.v in and ot' the spirit-In alHance

",ith the good or with the evi]

Diagram X

laU]-

Conclusien 1

Responsibilities

for

Life or death

Thebody-phy, sical The rnind"'

t. --

The spirit

"LmT

The scientist, the

engineer, ete.

-L L

Thephilosopher', tlie

scholar, ete.

LThe physician

Dlagram M




1,14 C. ),I. BRooKs

(1]onclusion 2

Everv maTi and woman is a teacher

iNn ancient chinese poet said

15x R X MI x if t" ?ft

wa ,tvrv)

"Goocl

teaching' Iike the wind and rain of spring brings lif'e ane}v fi'oni thc dead earth"

, Docs not this attainab}e quality reduce the sting ol' dcathl]

Diagram XII'

2. Finally, is thcre any visible ultimate attainable objective? I can namc onc.

Diagram IWI: Attainment

This is a statement from the cultural roots of the Orient relative to thc nature of life

and the naturc of death,

This writing states that good teaching, the good physician, a good life., creates new

life thus defeating death.

XSJe do not know the secrets of the life force. Life springs from life-it is a heritage

we must preserve and not destro>i.

Absolute death is dealh of a culture, death of' inind and spirit as well as that of inan.

X'Vc can knovv･ that each of' us will leave something bchind us after death which will echo in

the annals and lives of men to come as long as life exists, Attainment･ of an immortality

depends largely on what we can and wish to do, 'Iihere

is some choice in this matter of

life and death.

* A study of the ancient litcrature has revcaled that the four cl]aracters used as a concept #)wtLItas had a

dual urigin,

Two ef the charactcrs ft'[tg which litcrally mean trtt]sforrning rain, were first ysed by Mencius to speak

of Confucius.

He

likenecl

what Confucius did as a great tea[/her to pevpic to what the timely rain does to all growing things.

'

The

other

two eharucLers #za which mcan the gentle breeze of the Spring, were first used by Kuang-

Ting Chu, a schoLar of the Sung dynasty. Hc described his feeling uf bcing with his belox,cd teacher'

}vting-Duu Cheug as sitting in the gentle breeze c)f the Spring.

Later

peeple uscd to use these four characters together to exprcss their appreciation ofand tl]eir respect tbr thcir teachers.

From Hsin-Hsiang Lu December 26, l982



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The 　Naturc　ofL 渝 and 　thじ Nature　ofDea ほ1 145

生とは何か，死とは何か

Chandler　McCuskey 　BRooKs

二．ユーヨーク州立大学　特別名．誉教授

要旨：　本論文の内容は 1982年 10月 30 凵に本学医学概論σ）授業として講義されたものである．

　　　人間の生命には身体，精神，霊性の二つの側面があって，このうちどの一．・つが欠けても全

　　　体の死につながる．身体的生命の特徴として被刺激性，成長と生殖，適応牲，代謝の四っ

　　　があげられるが，これら要素の集合が即生命ではなく，全体を．』つにまとめる統合力が身

　　　体的生命の本質である．精神としての宅命は知性，合理的思考などを含み，霊性としての

　　　生命は共感，未来への洞察，究概的な存在の探求などを含む．精神も霊性も身体的生命の

　　　死と共に終る、不死の生命の問題は永遠の謎である．精神と霊性は人間の文化を形成し，

　　　逆に文化は生命の質を規定する．文化の死がおこれば人間は単なる野生動物に戻るだろう．

　　　科学者．ぱ主に身体と精字申を，哲学砦は梢神と霊性を取 γ〕扱う．良き医師としての人生は，

　　　人間の一

部分のみに注目することなく，「春風化雨」という詩句に表わされれているよ

　　　うに死せる大地から新，仁二な生命を生み出すものでなければならない．（訳責：伊藤幸郎）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　J・UOEH 　I：産業医鵡 1，

5 （2）・　ISI3− 145　（1983）

N 工工一Eleotronio 　Library 　

the natureof life the nature death

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