title: A legal perspective of the concept of life.
abstract: The problem of defining life is discussed, using as foundation Herman Dooyeweerd's philosophy of the Cosmonomic Idea, which holds that life is indefineable. Contemporary legal and philosophical writings concerning the exact moments of life and death are explored. While conceding the importance of these in the determination of the precise beginning and end of legal personhood, the author concludes that the concept of life is unfathomable.
authors.affiliation: School of Law, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: van der Vyver
mesh_terms: D000029:Abortion, Legal; D033421:Beginning of Human Life; D003643:Death; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization; D040821:Human Characteristics; D006801:Humans; D007883:Legislation, Medical; D019369:Life; D028723:Personhood; D011247:Pregnancy; D014180:Transplantation; D014481:United States; D026712:Value of Life