What Is Life According to Mark A. Bedau

Vol.18,No.2(2017)

Abstract
This article deals with the possibility of a philosophical definition of life and provides a critical analysis of Mark A. Bedau’s definition. According to Bedau, it is possible to formulate a definition of life and it is also useful for many scientific disciplines. Bedau rejects attempts to define life using a list of characteristics. He proposes a model of minimal chemical life called Program-Metabolism-Container Model (PMC model). It is characterized as a system of mutually reinforcing elements: 1. a program in the form of hereditary information, 2. the existence of metabolism, 3. a container ensuring the insulation of the system from the external environment and the identity of the individual organism. PMC model of a minimal chemical life helps to solve issues related to the nature and origin of life. Other approaches have failed in attempts to solve these problems.

Keywords:
philosophy of biology; definition of life; origin of life; PMC Model; Mark A. Bedau
References

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