What are the characteristics of Life? (as opposed to those of inanimate objects and the dead?)
It’s a strange truth that if you consult a textbook of biology you probably won’t find an entry in the index for “life” (it’s equally strange that the standard medical textbooks, such as Davidson’s Principles of Medicine, don’t have an index entry for “health”)
Varela and Maturana at MIT invented a word – “autopoiesis” – for what they thought was the key characteristic of living organisms. They explain that autopoiesis means “self-making capacity” and say that only living organisms can do this.
I think Life has at least these two main characteristics –
- the capacity to detect and respond to change AND
- growth.
We are continually perceiving and sensing the world and constantly responding to all the signals we are picking up. We respond to maintain our health (a function known as homeostasis describes the organism’s capacity to maintain internal stability). But we don’t just maintain an adaptive status quo……we grow.
Growth involves development, expansion, and novelty. Growth is our creative function.
Zombies don’t perceive and adapt. Heroes are consciously aware, reflective and responsive.
Zombies don’t grow. Heroes accept challenges and grow in the process.
That’s why I think our true nature is as heroes, not zombies.
Heroes Not Zombies 
Just found your blog this week Bob, and not the least bit surprised to say that i find it totally inspiring, and thought provoking….,loving the article’Life’….also loved the piece on ‘free wont’.
Thankyou, Bob, for the beautiful photography, it all heals….image, words, shared thoughts.
Hilary’s work is so amazingly beautiful, does she create all this for pleasure only, or is any of it for sale bob?Looking forward to reading a whole lot more on this sight, and will be referring many friends.Many thanks.
Thank you for these really kind comments Bet, I hope life’s going well for you.
I’ll pass on your comments to Hilary. A lot of people ask that question!
Looking forward to your regular visits here
[…] Life is difficult to define. I mean from a scientific or biological perspective. You can see that in the difficulty we have knowing whether or not a seed is alive. But amongst the most successful attempts to define life there is always some mention of action – of respiration, or metabolism. Or as Maturana and Varela said – of “self-making” – they even came up with a new w…. […]