Defining 'life'

Defining 'life'
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DOI:
10.1023/a:1020503324273
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发表时间:
2002-08-01
影响因子:
2
通讯作者:
Chyba, CF
Chyba, CF
中科院分区:
物理与天体物理4区
文献类型:
--
作者:
Cleland, CE;Chyba, CF

文献摘要

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对“生命”没有一个被广泛接受的定义。“建议的定义面临问题,通常以强有力的反例的形式出现。在这里,我们使用的见解,从哲学研究的语言,认为定义“生命”目前构成了一个困境,类似于那些希望定义“水”分子理论存在之前所面临的。在缺乏生命系统性质的类似理论的情况下,关于生命定义的无休止的争论是不可避免的。
There is no broadly accepted definition of 'life.' Suggested definitions face problems, often in the form of robust counter-examples. Here we use insights from philosophical investigations into language to argue that defining 'life' currently poses a dilemma analogous to that faced by those hoping to define 'water' before the existence of molecular theory. In the absence of an analogous theory of the nature of living systems, interminable controversy over the definition of life is inescapable.