[Alamo-Girl]

I strongly disagree of course that your definition of life is suitable for all kinds of life we might encounter, e.g. life which neither metabolizes nor replicates.

But beyond that, I'm putting your and my definition on the back burner. I just received a book today from betty boop - thank you, dearest sister in Christ - and just by a quick scan of the content I suspect your definition is the "straight man" for what she and Robert Rosen have to say on the subject.

[allmendream]

Life that didn't metabolize would break down irreparably. Life that didn't replicate would eventually become extinct.

A necessary condition of life is that it is organized.

A necessary condition of being organized is the need to consume energy to maintain that organization.

And yes, the definition for life I used is the solid basis that others would use as the launch pad for their flights of fancy.

[betty boop]

Oh I'm SO glad you got it so quickly, dearest sister in Christ! I'm on chapter 9 of 11. It has been such a marvelous read so far! I hope you'll enjoy it — and you being so strongly mathematically inclined, I rather suspect you will!

Indeed, as you say the "unreasonable effectiveness of mathematics" is like God's copyright notice on the Universe!

I can't wait to hear what you think of it....