The Utterable and Unutterable Anthropological Meaning of the Body in the Context of Organ Transplantation

Abstract

In the following, we present four interpretative approaches providing a theoretical framework of an extended body anthropology of organ transplantation, which aims to accommodate empirical phenomena in the context of organ donation.1 These approaches are concerned with the specific relation between body ascription and identity ascription in organ donation. Regarding this relation, we distinguish between thingification, personalisation, identification and tabooing. Finally, we discuss to which extent these four approaches can influence moral attitudes towards organ donation and which socio-cultural and politico-ethical implications they may entail.