>If labeling has fuzzy boundaries, perhaps it shouldn't have strong implications. Well, it's tricky because labelling is so useful (oftentimes crucial for comm

>If labeling has fuzzy boundaries, perhaps it shouldn't have strong implications. Well, it's tricky because labelling is so useful (oftentimes crucial for communication purposes), but we would be hamstringing ourselves if we either a. held off on labeling things with fuzzy boundaries altogether or b. refused to entertain possibilities with strong implications because a labelled phenomenon has fuzzy boundaries. Best to remember that labels are useful but with very important limitations. Ultimately, when we get out to the edge of our understanding the boundaries will always be fuzzy, at least until a breakthrough (and sometimes long after). Whenever you are at a boundary, continually remind yourself that the label is less important than communication and exploration of what actually appears to be going on. Are viruses alive? This is a very interesting question to try and answer from different angles, but arriving on a definitive "yes or no" here is not at all the most important thing about viruses to be worrying about.