What is Life?

     Full text: Not available
     Last modified: February 15, 2005
     Presentation date: 07/16/2005 9:00 AM in MACK 238
     (View Schedule)

Abstract
Biology is the study of life, yet it remains quite unclear exactly what ''life'' really is. To be sure, this has been an inssue of both philosophical and scientific interest since at least the time of Aristotle, but recent developments such as computer generated ''artificial life'' and the search for life on other planets are lending a new urgency to the effort to understand what life ultimately is.

This session will address questions such as:
- Is it possible to define life at all?
- What sort(s) of definitions might be offered and
why?
- Is life a natural kind?

Participants include:
Carol Cleland, University of Colorado, ''The
problem of defining 'life'''
Rob Pennock, Michigan State University, ''Life
Forms and Forms of Life: Wittgensteinian &
Darwinian Insights on the Meaning of Life and
ALife''
Mark Bedau, Reed College, ''How to understand
the question ''What is life?''
Kelly Smith, Clemson University, ''Why ask 'What
is life?'''

Multiple Paper Session:
Papers in this session:
Why ask 'What is Life?"'
How to understand the question "What is life?"
Life Forms and Forms of Life: Wittgensteinian and Darwinian Insights on the Meaning of Life and ALife
The Problem of Defining ‘Life’