著者

中野 桂子

出版者

日本医学哲学・倫理学会

雑誌

医学哲学 医学倫理 (ISSN:02896427)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.34, pp.11-21, 2016 (Released:2018-05-07)

著者

中野 桂子

出版者

日本医学哲学・倫理学会

雑誌

医学哲学 医学倫理 (ISSN:02896427)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.32, pp.64-70, 2014 (Released:2018-02-01)

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This paper aims to clarify how a higher brain dysfunction, Kikuko Yamada recovers from her visual agnosia. According to her notes, the vision damage makes many errors of judging and doing in the everyday life of her. For example, she is not able to operate the water closet, have a meal, and go down the stairs. Sometimes, someone within herself says why don’t you try touching instead of looking to her. After much difficulty, at length, she tries touching many things. Thus, Yamada escapes from the dependence on vision in the modern life centered around vision. Touch as somatic sensation is dull in comparison with vision, audition, taste, olfaction as special sensations. But touch is the base or very root of all sensations. Therefore, touch is the certain, unquestionable, and stable sensation. Then, things which I can touch are manifest to me. Yamada is taught to try touching the surrounding things in order to pass judgment, by someone within herself. Yamada named this someone Zenkochan( Frontal) of Zentouyou( Frontal lobe). Of course, Zenkochan is not the frontal lobe but personality of Yamada. So, she is another“ I,” that is personality. Thus, personality is self, and this self calls Yamada’s attention to touch.