RE: life vs. non-life

From: denis bider (denis.bider@globera.com)
Date: Wed Jan 24 2001 - 18:02:39 MST


> associate different functional characteristics
> with "life" and "nonlife".

Oh yes, another question. What would these different functional
characteristics be? Ie, how does 'life' differ from 'non-life', other than
by definition?

To me, it seems that things are the way they are; little more can be said
about them. If you label something 'life' or 'non-life', that doesn't seem
to me to mean a thing. Labeling something as 'alive' only means that you
view it another way, in a way that might facilitate deeper insight (or not);
it doesn't change the nature of that thing.

Or am I wrong? Is there a fundamental difference between 'life' and
'non-life'? If so, what is the magic limit between 'life' and 'non-life'?
I'm not aware of any definition that provides a clean cut. But maybe that is
just my lack of knowledge, maybe there is such a magical definition?

I'm open to suggestions.



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