When we look at ourselves in the mirror, we see our bodies. When others look at us, they see the same—at least primarily. As a result, when asked to describe human structure or its components, almost everyone focuses on the physical body. Science has never claimed that human parts are limited to the body alone. However, due to the accessibility of studying the body, most research revolves around it, leading many to mistakenly believe that the human being consists only of the physical form.

What I am proposing is that humans have two main parts: the physical and the nonphysical. The physical part is obvious and visible, while the nonphysical part is invisible to our eyes, known only through its related phenomena. Before delving deeper into the nature of the nonphysical part, it is essential to emphasize its importance in understanding death and dying. When we limit our understanding of human structure to the body, we tend to define death solely as the cessation of bodily functions. However, if we consider the existence of a nonphysical part, we can be more cautious in declaring death merely because the body has stopped functioning. Additionally, definitions of death used across various contexts would gain a broader and more nuanced perspective.

I will illustrate the concept of the nonphysical part of humans through two phenomena: dreaming during sleep and near-death experiences. When we sleep and dream, we see things. We often describe dreams as images created by the brain. While I do not dispute that the brain plays a role, everything we perceive comes to us through the brain. However, this does not prove that dreams are only mental constructs and not a form of direct reality. This assumption gains weight when considering that people sometimes perceive real events through dreams while they sleep. These visions are not mere brain-generated images.

In the case of near-death experiences, as documented in various credible accounts, when the body ceases to function—either due to end-stage conditions or induced states for medical purposes—people often perceive real events, including their own bodies and surroundings, during those moments. The ability to perceive persists even when the body’s physical functions have ceased. This suggests that there may be aspects of our being beyond the physical body capable of perceiving comprehensively, independent of the physical senses.

The concept of a nonphysical part of a human is not new. However, in scientific research, it remains largely unexplored, especially when compared to studies of the human body. Yet, the absence of clear identification by scientific processes does not necessarily mean that it cannot or does not exist. Just as the human heart was essential and functional long before its structure and function were understood scientifically, the nonphysical aspect of human beings could be equally important despite the lack of empirical validation. Acknowledging this possibility is crucial to avoid misguided conclusions despite our extensive efforts to study the body.

Ultimately, understanding human structure as comprising both physical and nonphysical parts offers a more comprehensive explanation of various phenomena associated with human life than relying on the physical body alone. Religions also allude to such duality. Perhaps one day, we will have reliable methods to confirm the existence of the nonphysical part, whether through empirical science or some other equally or more effective approach.