Thanatology as an Interdisciplinary Field

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Other Title
  • 学際的な学問としての死生学
  • ガクサイテキ ナ ガクモン ト シテ ノ シセイガク

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Abstract

The terms “thanatology” and “gerontology” were both created at the same time in 1903 from Greek by Metchnikoff. Both fields are of an interdisciplinary nature comprising sciences (natural and social) and humanities, i.e. philosophy, religion, literature, etc. Both fields should have been studied integrally and comprehensively.<br>However, this has not been hitherto successfully done, partly because the development of thanatology has lagged behind gerontology. Until the 1980s, dealing with death had tended to be taboo except in religion, philosophy and bioethics.<br>Over the past three decades, evidence-based studies on quality of dying and/or death (QOD (D)) in relation to terminal care have developed mainly in the United States and Canada. That is largely due to the mechanisms of the conceptual framework and the development of measurements for assessing the process and outcomes for quantitative end-of-life research for QOD (D). Further investigations using operational concepts at the end of life are warranted.<br>However, investigations of thanatology should not be restricted to QOD (D) in the short span at the end of life. QOD (D) should be discussed in relation to QOL throughout the entire life. The method for researching these issues in that field will be narrative as in the observed literature including biography, pathography, etc., rather than quantitative. Both studies in sciences and humanities are expected to contribute to the development of thanatology. The present paper includes the author's personal opinions regarding topics currently raised, although he is not able to demonstrate the topological significance for the framework of the whole of thanatology.

Journal

  • Iryo To Shakai

    Iryo To Shakai 25 (1), 9-20, 2015

    The Health Care Science Institute

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