Wolf – Is it your contention then that the widow of a talmid chochom cannot re-marry because her husband’s lips move in the kever, proving that he is, in fact, still alive?
Obviousley there is various applications and definitions of the word “alive” and “dead”. Reso’im are called “dead” even when alive (an oxymoron) but do Chazal mean to say that their wives are free to remarry without a get?! Chazal say that tzadikim are called alive even when dead (again an oxymoron) but are their wives free to remarry?!
There is an old discussion among Achronim if “Rabi” (kidding) Eliyohu Hanovee’s wife was free to remarry or does she remain married after his departure?! Reb Elchonon (Wasserman) has a shtikel on it too in Kovetz Shiurim
But to get to the point, the talmid chochom has a “din” of dead to free his wife to remarry, but he is not dead like a normal corpse, as he still has a connection with this world and interacts with it..