Research Theme
Interdisciplinary pursuit of the meaning of life and death
Research Director
MORIOKA, Masahiro
Faculty of Human Sciences, School of Human Sciences
Project Members
- FUKUSHIMA, Isao Professor, Faculty of Human Sciences, School of Human Sciences
- ITO, Ryo Associate Professor, Faculty of Letters, Arts and Sciences, School of Humanities and Social Sciences
- MORI, Yuria Professor, Faculty of Letters, Arts and Sciences, School of Humanities and Social Sciences
- MORIOKA, Masahiro Professor, Faculty of Human Sciences, School of Human Sciences
- OGIHARA, Atsushi Professor, Faculty of Human Sciences, School of Human Sciences
- SASAZUKI, Momoko Professor, Faculty of Human Sciences, School of Human Sciences
- TSUJIUCHI, Takuya Professor, Faculty of Human Sciences, School of Human Sciences
- YOKONO, Megumu Associate Professor, Faculty of Social Sciences, School of Social Sciences
- NAGASAWA, Yujin
- TAKEMURA, Mizuho
Research Keywords
Death studies, medical anthropology, pediatrics, bioethics, philosophy of life’s meaning
Research Summary
The Institute promotes research in two areas. The first is empirical research into the nature of human life and death in modern society and medicine. The second is theoretical research into the meaning of life and death and philosophy in general. By integrating these two areas of research, the Institute aims to create an international research base for interdisciplinary research on life and death.
[Contemporary Society and Medicine]
1) Research on Human Life and Death in Contemporary Society
We will conduct theoretical, empirical and interview-based research on the psychological, physical, cultural, social, and medical anthropological aspects of death in various social environments.
2) Research on Palliative Care for Children and Decision-Making in Paediatric Medicine
We will conduct empirical and theoretical research on the psychological, physical, and spiritual care of children who are going through the process of death, as well as their families. We will also conduct bioethical and legal research on decision-making in paediatric medicine.
3) Interdisciplinary Research on Discourses, Images and Legal Systems Related to Human Life and Death
We will carry out interdisciplinary research on technologies, discourses, images, and legal systems related to human life and death, such as euthanasia, human genetic engineering, and the Holocaust.
[Philosophy of life and death]
4) Exploring the Philosophy of life’s Meaning
We will engage in philosophical, logical, ethical, metaphysical and religious philosophical discussions about the meaning of life and human existence. We will conduct research by synthesizing the contexts of analytic philosophy, continental philosophy, phenomenology, and Asian philosophy.
5) Establishing a Platform for Philosophical Research
We will create a base for the study of philosophy by editing and publishing two academic journals (Journal of Philosophy of Life, 現代生命哲学研究) and by managing two philosophy research groups based at Waseda University (早稲田超域哲学研究会, Waseda Philosophy Research Group (WPRG)). We will establish a base for international exchange in philosophy at Waseda University.
6) Bioethical Research on Life Science Technologies
We will conduct research on the ethical aspects of the application of life science technologies to the human body, such as genetic enhancement, sports doping, and life extension.
