From: Nathan Pila (pila@sympatico.ca)
Date: Mon Nov 17 2003 - 21:06:31 GMT
David,
I know that there are some people who want to say that the earth is alive.
But for me, I would say it is not alive. One of the attributes of living
creatures is intentionality. That is, in a living organism, there is
something other than matter. There is for lack of a better word, something I
will call "WILL". Something that is alive has some autonomy and can violate
rules if it so chooses to.
I may have a thousand reasons to do X; it may be in my best interests and
yet decide to do Y just because I want to. The earth is just is; it sits
there and is acted upon.
Do you agree with any of this?
Nathan
----- Original Message -----
From: "David MOREY" <us@divadeus.freeserve.co.uk>
To: <moq_discuss@moq.org>
Sent: Monday, November 17, 2003 10:07 AM
Subject: Re: MD what is life?
> Hi
>
> The earth is an interesting one. Not what we would usually
> think of as an organism. Life has done a good job at making
> the earth inhabitable. And the stability of the environment for
> maintaining life is impressive. It is also a very complex total system
> interacting with the space environment. Where purposeful activity
> is involved in this is hard to say, I would not dismis it on metaphysical
> grounds as per SOM too quickly. It needs investigating. What do you think?
>
> regards
> David M
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Nathan Pila" <pila@sympatico.ca>
> To: <moq_discuss@moq.org>
> Sent: Sunday, November 16, 2003 11:03 PM
> Subject: Re: MD what is life?
>
>
> > David,
> >
> > Using what you wrote, would you say that the earth is alive as a
organism?
> > And what about a liver cell? Is it alive?
> >
> > Regards, Nathan
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "David MOREY" <us@divadeus.freeserve.co.uk>
> > To: <moq_discuss@moq.org>
> > Sent: Sunday, November 16, 2003 11:37 AM
> > Subject: Re: MD what is life?
> >
> >
> > > Hi
> > >
> > > Seems easy to me, life fills all the levels of complexity
> > > after those that create the most determinate level of matter.
> > > Life exhibits a level of free activity above that which is only
> > > concerned with the contingent interaction of elements.
> > > Life makes a use of its environment. There is also a use
> > > from energy to particles to atoms to molecules but we
> > > do not call this life because the movement is away from free
> > > movement towards heavy, stationary, gravity loving, and determined
> > > elements, the most static patterns that exist.
> > >
> > > regards
> > > David M
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Magnus Berg" <McMagnus@home.se>
> > > To: <moq_discuss@moq.org>
> > > Sent: Sunday, November 16, 2003 10:18 AM
> > > Subject: re: MD what is life?
> > >
> > >
> > > > Hi Nathan
> > > >
> > > > I mostly lurk nowadays but if you are interested in my take on life,
> > feel
> > > free to read "A classicist's road to the Metaphysics of Quality" in
the
> > MoQ
> > > forum:
> > > >
> > > > http://www.moq.org/forum/magnus/magnus.html
> > > >
> > > > Magnus
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > "Nathan Pila" <pila@sympatico.ca> wrote:
> > > > __________
> > > > >Hi there Steve,
> > > > >
> > > > >Well, I would assert that the study of "life" is worthwhile even if
> it
> > is
> > > an
> > > > >illusion. Right now, a definition that is accepted by everyone has
> yet
> > to
> > > be
> > > > >formulated. How can one tell if some material is "alive". What
> > properties
> > > > >would such material exhibit?
> > > > >
> > > > >How would you, (Steve)/ (or anyone else) /define 'life'? I am aware
> > that
> > > I
> > > > >am not being fair here in that this question is easy to state and
> > > terribly
> > > > >difficult to answer. But if you have the time, I would be
interested
> in
> > > some
> > > > >of the properties that you think 'life' has. I have some views on
the
> > > > >subject based on some stuff I've read. But I would like to hear
what
> > you
> > > > >write first.
> > > > >
> > > > >Regards, Nathan
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
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