2007-12-09 08:51:46 · 8 answers · asked by asterix_evolution 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Life is an opportunity.
...for what? This is the real question.
2007-12-09 08:58:40 · answer #1 · answered by Lost. at. Sea. 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good question. I think there are at least two philosophically serious approaches: the scientific and the poetic. As for a poetic approach, you can likely find as many responses as there are people.
But for a scientific appreciation, it may come down to a definition that requires both reproduction and metabolism.
By reproduction, I'm not just referring to mating or meiosis or sexual recombination. Instead, a broader concept of reproduction would use *information* (construction, storage, copying, error control, error propagation, and so forth).
And metabolism likewise need not be confined to eating or photosynthesis and "basic life biology". Rather, a broader concept would use energy conversion and material states.
Using these broader concepts for reproduction and metabolism, Life might be a construct that matter can "adopt" as an epiphenomenon (that is, a property that emerges naturally only after some minimally sized aggregate of matter is obtained). So, Life would be a natural state of matter that occurs when matter aggregates into naturally configured states (like proteins or nucleic acids). This would be one approach to abiogenesis. And it is also the approach that is being tested by those interested in artificial life (or perhaps life "in silico" if it "runs" on a computation device).
Interestingly, a similar approach can be used to discuss consciousness. Cognition may be a natural epiphenomenon that occurs when neural systems simply get large and complex enough to support it.
2007-12-09 17:13:35 · answer #2 · answered by kwxilvr 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What is life, if not a gem of dust compressed
In daedal hands, seeled, with hermetic power
To bloom an instant on a fenneled tower,
A diadem of visions opalesced.
What is life, if not a stormy sea
On which, but for the hour, you're set to sail
To quest quixotically to grasp the Grail
'Til tritons trumpet, calling home to thee.
What is life, if not the secret of a fateful gift
That once it's opened scourges you with thorn.
And yet, the hand that animates the glove
So cleverly designed to hold and lift in triumph
Tips a laurel wreathed horn
And sounds the sorrowing shell to hapless love.
-- Chem Tutor
2007-12-09 17:49:36 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is the opprotunity you have to choose between heaven and hell. life isnt as important as where you're going after it because after life is like another life, but eternal. you have so many years to choose how and where you want to spend your eternal life. heaven or hell? you choose. i know where i am going. do you? if you dont, you better find out soon because you dont know how much time u have left to choose.
2007-12-09 18:09:32 · answer #4 · answered by *~chelsea~* 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
life is now and here life is what you choose to be...only you can give the answer.
2007-12-09 17:34:18 · answer #5 · answered by froggiebau 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
life is a game which consists of barriers, freedoms and goals.
2007-12-09 21:03:20 · answer #6 · answered by pennywisesmart 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
According to a song its a Cabaret ol' chum...
2007-12-09 18:08:39 · answer #7 · answered by infidel-louie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The period between birth and death.
2007-12-09 18:14:20 · answer #8 · answered by jiahua448 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋