I love reading about this experiment, and all the reactions over the years. But I have yet to see anyone question the underlying premise that there is a specific "moment of death". Based on my (admittedly layman's) understanding, death is a process, not a moment.
Of course, having said that out loud, odds are someone will be along shortly to cite people who have already said so.
stareatgoats•4mo ago
A repeat of this experiment, with a few thousand participants, conducted under strict control would probably settle that question. One can't help wonder, why hasn't this been done?
I guess ethical and practical considerations aside (you'd have to find participants that agreed to the experiment, as well as having no grieving and potentially experiment-disturbing kin by the bedside): conducting such experiments would not earn you any positive citations from other scientists who largely try to steer clear of anything that smacks of spirits.
Plus, what if Duncan MacDougall's claim is proven correct?
_wire_•4mo ago
Why not examine the inverse, weigh a human egg as it's fertilized...
Oh, wait, this whole 21-grams idea is obviously absurd
codingdave•4mo ago
Of course, having said that out loud, odds are someone will be along shortly to cite people who have already said so.
stareatgoats•4mo ago
I guess ethical and practical considerations aside (you'd have to find participants that agreed to the experiment, as well as having no grieving and potentially experiment-disturbing kin by the bedside): conducting such experiments would not earn you any positive citations from other scientists who largely try to steer clear of anything that smacks of spirits.
Plus, what if Duncan MacDougall's claim is proven correct?