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Exactly. The definition of life that is taught in school and widely cited is very limited to simply what we traditionally consider alive. But where are fr he li
by wlib 8y ago
Exactly. The definition of life that is taught in school and widely cited is very limited to simply what we traditionally consider alive. But where are fr he lines drawn? Must life be conscious, or at least experience qualia? Does conciousness get more "real" in more complex organisms? (Is a fly just as alive as a horse is?) Why do we consider viruses to be not alive? Are our own bodies' cells alive? In what way? The system is very complicated and we answer is with a hand-waving simple definition.
- goatlover 8y agoThe lines are drawn based on what biology we have available to us. If we ever discover alien biology, the lines might be drawn more broadly. But we don't know until then.
- hopler 8y agoIt's still a bit arbitrary. Why is the water cycle in a mountain/coud/river not a living process, but the ATP cycle in a cell is?