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Defining 'life'.

Carol E Cleland1, Christopher F Chyba

  • 1Department of Philosophy and the Center for Astrobiology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.

Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere : the Journal of the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life
|December 3, 2002
PubMed
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Defining life remains challenging due to a lack of a unifying theory. Philosophical analysis suggests current debates are inescapable without a scientific framework for living systems.

Area of Science:

  • Philosophy of Science
  • Astrobiology
  • Origin of Life Studies

Background:

  • The definition of 'life' lacks universal consensus.
  • Existing definitions are often invalidated by counter-examples.
  • This ambiguity impacts fields like astrobiology and synthetic biology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the definitional challenges of 'life' using linguistic philosophy.
  • To propose an analogy for the current state of defining life.
  • To explain why a universally accepted definition remains elusive.

Main Methods:

  • Philosophical analysis of language and definitions.
  • Drawing parallels with historical scientific definitional problems (e.g., 'water').
  • Examining the implications of a lack of theoretical framework for 'living systems.'

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Main Results:

  • Defining 'life' presents a dilemma similar to defining 'water' before molecular theory.
  • Without a theory of living systems, definitional disputes are unavoidable.
  • Current approaches to defining life are insufficient to resolve controversy.

Conclusions:

  • A scientific theory analogous to molecular theory is needed to define life.
  • Interminable controversy over the definition of life is currently inescapable.
  • Future progress requires a deeper understanding of the fundamental nature of living systems.