Defending definitions of life

Area of Science:

• Biology
• Astrobiology
• Origin-of-life studies

Background:

• Defining life has become unpopular due to failed attempts at precise, universally accepted definitions.
• Recent definitional efforts have not met strict philosophical criteria or achieved consensus.

Discussion:

• Clear communication in science necessitates provisional definitions, even if not perfectly precise.
• Universal claims about life are justified by current biological knowledge.
• Life maps to observable processes, regardless of its status as a natural category.

Key Insights:

• Plural explicit definitions are essential for advancing astrobiology and origin-of-life research.
• Proposed categories include Woese life, Darwin life, and Haldane life for clearer communication.
• These categories are related to, but not necessarily coextensive with, the concept of life.

Outlook:

• Adopting explicit, plural definitions will foster hypothesis formation and scientific progress.
• This approach addresses the need for clarity in complex biological and interdisciplinary studies.
• Future research can build upon these defined categories for more targeted investigations.