The Definition of Life is Subjective
Sometimes you hear it said, "I cannot precisely define it, but I know it when I see it or hear it." This type of
comment is an indication that the term to be defined is a subjective one.
An example is one of a man who claims that life is defined as including the requirement that the living system
be capable of reproducing itself. Since the man making the definition cannot reproduce himself, the
argument is automatically null and void in an objective scientific sense. The argument becomes subjective
and political. What is really being said is "I can make a statement which is irrational on the face of it and get
away with it because I have the political power to do it." Perhaps the man is famous, has won awards, has
many graduate degrees or is otherwise in a position of power within the scientific community. Under those
circumstances, who is going to object to his definition but another human who cannot meet the reproduction
requirements either. A tacit political alliance has been formed in which all of the participants agree to ignore
that their definition of life excludes precisely those entities holding political power within their
community...themselves.
Human hubris is almost unlimited.
See: Donbot's Defintion of Life
Donbot
Sometimes you hear it said, "I cannot precisely define it, but I know it when I see it or hear it." This type of
comment is an indication that the term to be defined is a subjective one.
An example is one of a man who claims that life is defined as including the requirement that the living system
be capable of reproducing itself. Since the man making the definition cannot reproduce himself, the
argument is automatically null and void in an objective scientific sense. The argument becomes subjective
and political. What is really being said is "I can make a statement which is irrational on the face of it and get
away with it because I have the political power to do it." Perhaps the man is famous, has won awards, has
many graduate degrees or is otherwise in a position of power within the scientific community. Under those
circumstances, who is going to object to his definition but another human who cannot meet the reproduction
requirements either. A tacit political alliance has been formed in which all of the participants agree to ignore
that their definition of life excludes precisely those entities holding political power within their
community...themselves.
Human hubris is almost unlimited.
See: Donbot's Defintion of Life
Donbot
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