Life: 1That property or quality of plants and animals that distinguishes them from inorganic matter or dead organisms; specif., the cellular biochemical activity or processes of an organism, characterized by the ingestion of nutrients, the storage and use of energy, the excretion of wastes, growth, reproduction, ect.
Live: 1having life; living
{Webster’s New World, College Dictionary, Third Edition, 1997}
Even though we may not be able to give a, one size fits all, definition for exactly what is, and what is not Alive in no way requires us to come to the conclusion that there is no real line.
The fact that rocks are not Alive and Trees are shows that there is a difference. Therefore, there must be a line somewhere.
By the way, Taking into account all of the criteria mentioned above {in the definition}, show me some object that is not Alive and yet exhibits all of the specified criteria.
Added — August 25th, 4’
Something that is alive will ingest nutrients, store and use energy, excrete wastes, grow, and reproduce; among other things. {According to the definition above.}
I believe that one of the other things we could use is ‘the complexity principle’ I used in another string.
{If I see something that has both organization and complexity I look for an intelligent designer.
A hurricane has organization, but is vary low on the complexity scale; I accept that it is the product of natural circumstances.
/
My cell phone has both organization and complexity; therefore, I come to the conclusion that it has an intelligent designer.
Whether or not anything has both organization and complexity, it not the only criteria that I could use to decide whether or not something was made {I.E. created by an intelligent designer}, but it is one good measuring stick.
For instance, a park bench has vary little complexity {I.E. it is a vary simple design.} but, we’re not going to mistake six peaces of lumber bolted to a metal frame for a natural occurrence. Thus, not all designed things are complex, but all ‘relatively’ complex things are designed; the more complex the item, the more intelligent the designer must be. {I.E. someone with an I.Q. of, say, fifty would not be able to design and build a laptop computer}}
I was speaking on the subject of whether or not Life could come into existence without an intelligent designer. However the principle can be used in helping to determine whether or no something is alive. {Please note: I am not saying that just because something is, or possesses a certain amount of, complexity that it is alive just that complexity can be added to the list of life definitions}
For example, my cell phone has both organization and complexity. However, comparing it to a bacterium you can see that the bacterium is, by far, more complex; and that the bacterium exhibits all the other criteria for life; therefore, the bacterium is alive, and the cell phone is not. After all, the cell phone may be complex however; it does not exhibit all of the other criteria for life.
This message has been edited by jrtjr1, 08-26-2004 01:45 AM
John3: 16, 17
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