Скачать или смотреть "An Operational Approach to Defining Life" by Leonardo Bich

Abstract: Despite numerous and increasing attempts to define what life is, there is no consensus on necessary and sufficient conditions for life. Accordingly, some scholars have questioned the value of definitions of life and encouraged scientists and philosophers alike to discard the project. As an alternative to this pessimistic conclusion, this talk will argue that critically rethinking the nature and uses of definitions can provide new insights into the epistemic roles of definitions of life for different research practices. This talk discusses the possible contributions of definitions of life in scientific domains where such definitions are used most (e.g., Synthetic Biology, Origins of Life, Alife, and Astrobiology). Rather than as classificatory tools for demarcation of natural kinds, it highlights the pragmatic utility of what we called ‘operational definitions’ that serve as both theoretical and epistemic tools in scientific practice. In particular, it examines contexts where definitions integrate criteria for life into theoretical models that involve or enable observable operations. It shows how these definitions of life play important roles in influencing research agendas and evaluating results, and it argues that to discard the project of defining life is neither sufficiently motivated, nor possible without dismissing important theoretical and practical research.