From the Anticipatory Corpse to the Participatory Body

Area of Science:

• Philosophy of Medicine
• Bioethics
• Sociology of Health

Background:

• Contemporary end-of-life care practices often obscure the presence of death.
• Modern medicine's epistemology is shaped by the cadaver, influencing healthcare.
• A metaphysics lacking formal and final causes currently dominates healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically examine Jeffrey Bishop's argument in "The Anticipatory Corpse."
• To explore the implications of Bishop's work for end-of-life care and beyond.
• To foster dialogue on the philosophical and sociological dimensions of death in medicine.

Main Methods:

• Symposium essays critically engage Bishop's work from diverse perspectives.
• Methodological challenges are raised using human rights, social imaginaries, and economics.
• The argument's extension to other issues and its sociological relevance are explored.

Main Results:

• Bishop's "The Anticipatory Corpse" offers a critical lens on death in end-of-life care.
• The symposium highlights methodological critiques and expands the argument's applicability.
• Bishop's evolving thought and reception of his work are presented.

Conclusions:

• Bishop's work provides a powerful framework for understanding death in contemporary medicine.
• Interdisciplinary engagement enriches the analysis of end-of-life care and medical metaphysics.
• The book prompts ongoing scholarly discussion on mortality and healthcare practices.