Deck 4: What It Is to Die

Question 1

According to Gilmore, Activists and Capacitists disagree about

A) which vital processes (metabolism? growth? reproduction?) are relevant to whether a thing is alive.
B) the biochemistry of metabolism and what is occurring at the biochemical level in cryptobiotic organisms. Activists say that all chemical reactions have ceased in these organisms; Capacitists say that these reactions continue but at a much reduced rate.
C) whether organisms that are not undergoing the relevant vital processes, but that are capable of doing so, count as alive. Capacitists say 'Yes'; Activists say 'No'.
D) whether rocks are examples of things that neither alive nor dead.
E) whether cryptobiotic tardigrades have the capacity to return to an active state in response to suitable changes in environmental conditions.

Answer 1

whether organisms that are not undergoing the relevant vital processes, but that are capable of doing so, count as alive. Capacitists say 'Yes'; Activists say 'No'.

Question 2

Recall that Grady is Gilmore's example of a tardigrade in cryptobiosis. According to Gilmore, the Capacitist solution to the Paradox of Cryptobiosis says that

A) propositions (1) - (3) are not inconsistent.
B) proposition (1), that Grady is not alive, is false. Grady is alive.
C) proposition (2), that Grady is not dead, is false. Grady is dead.
D) proposition (3), that everything is either alive or dead, is false. Grady is neither alive nor dead.
E) there are at least two different senses of the words 'dead'. In one sense, proposition (2) is true and (1) is false. In the other sense, proposition (2) is false and (1) is true.

Answer 2

proposition (1), that Grady is not alive, is false. Grady is alive.

Question 3

According to Gilmore, the correct solution to the Paradox of Cryptobiosis says that

A) propositions (1) - (3) are not inconsistent.
B) proposition (1), that Grady is not alive, is false. Grady is alive.
C) proposition (2), that Grady is not dead, is false. Grady is dead.
D) proposition (3), that everything is either alive or dead, is false. Grady is neither alive nor dead.
E) there are at least two different senses of the words 'dead'. In one sense, proposition (2) is true and (1) is false. In the other sense, proposition (2) is false and (1) is true.

Answer 3

proposition (3), that everything is either alive or dead, is false. Grady is neither alive nor dead.

Question 4

According to Gilmore, which of the following are all internal properties?

A) being capable of undergoing the relevant vital processes, being alive, having a temperature of 98.6 degrees F.
B) being dead, being 2 kg in mass.
C) being 2 kg in mass, having a temperature of 98.6 degrees F, having existed for more than two days.
D) being in the path of a falling boulder, having existed for more than two days, being dead
E) being alive, being capable of undergoing the relevant vital processes, being cryptobiotic, being dead.

Question 5

According to Gilmore, which of the following are all non-internal properties?

A) being capable of undergoing the relevant vital processes, being alive, having a temperature of 98.6 degrees F.
B) being dead, being 2 kg in mass.
C) being 2 kg in mass, having a temperature of 98.6 degrees F, having existed for more than two days.
D) being in the path of a falling boulder, having existed for more than two days, being dead
E) being alive, being capable of undergoing the relevant vital processes, being cryptobiotic, being dead.

Question 6

Cessation is the view that to die is to cease to be alive. According to Gilmore, Cessation

A) is true and informative.
B) is true but uninformative.
C) is false because things can die without then ceasing to be alive. When a tardigrade becomes cryptobiotic, it does die, but retains the capacity to undergo the relevant processes, so it doesn't cease to be alive.
D) is false because things can cease to be alive without then dying. When a tardigrade becomes cryptobiotic, it does cease to be alive, but it doesn't then die.
E) is false because there is more than one sense of 'die' and of 'alive'.

Question 7

What is Capacitism? In your own words, explain and critically evaluate Gilmore's argument against Capacitism. What, in your view, is the Capacitist's best strategy for replying to that argument? Is that reply successful? Why or why not?

Question 8

Gilmore claims that so-called 'brain dead' patients are either alive or dead: unlike cryptobiotic organisms, they are not 'somewhere in between'. In your own words, explain and critically evaluate his argument for this claim. Optional: Present what you take to be the best reasons in support of the opposing claim that these patients are neither alive nor dead.