What is life? Prerequisites for a definition

Area of Science:

• Philosophy of Science
• Origin of Life Studies
• Theology

Background:

• Current definitions of life are often biased, with biologists viewing it as transient and theologians as eternal.
• Implicit, unsupported assumptions surround the concept of life, hindering objective understanding.
• The validity of concepts like 'life' requires rigorous examination, akin to scientific principles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify prerequisites for an unbiased, evidence-based definition of life.
• To challenge implicit assumptions about life's origins, nature, and distinguishability from non-life.
• To propose a framework for a definition that bridges biological and theological perspectives.

Main Methods:

• Critical analysis of existing assumptions about life.
• Identification of unwarranted presuppositions in current biological and theological discourse.
• Conceptual framework development for a new definition of life.

Main Results:

• Numerous implicit assumptions about life lack empirical support.
• The concept of 'life' may be as ill-defined as historical scientific concepts like 'phlogiston'.
• A definition of life must be broad, loosely structured, and free of bias.

Conclusions:

• An unbiased definition of life requires explicit, evidence-based assumptions.
• Such a definition should encompass the evolutionary processes from matter and energy to conscious organisms and truth discovery.
• This approach can foster dialogue between disparate fields like biology and theology.