The Quest for a Universal Theory of Life: Searching for Life As We Don't Know ItIntegrating both scientific and philosophical perspectives, this book provides an informed analysis of the challenges of formulating a universal theory of life. Among the issues discussed are crucial differences between definitions and scientific theories and, in the context of examples from the history of science, how successful general theories develop. The central problem discussed is two-fold: first, our understanding of life is still tacitly wedded to an antiquated Aristotelian framework for biology; and second, there are compelling reasons for considering that familiar Earth life, which descends from a last universal common ancestor, is unrepresentative. What is needed are examples of life as we don't know it. Potential sources are evaluated, including artificial life, extraterrestrial life, and a shadow biosphere right here on Earth, and a novel strategy for searching for unfamiliar life in the absence of a definition or general theory is developed. The book is a valuable resource for graduate students and researchers studying the nature, origins, and extent of life in the universe. |
Contents
The Battle over Life | 8 |
Why Life Cannot Be Defined | 33 |
What Is a Scientific Theory? | 63 |
How Scientific Theories Develop | 82 |
Challenges for a Universal Theory of Life | 105 |
Lessons from the World | 132 |
Could ALife Solve the N 1 Problem? | 161 |
Searching for Extraterrestrial Life Without a Definition or Universal | 172 |
Alien Microbes on Earth? | 195 |
Conclusion | 217 |
Other editions - View all
The Quest for a Universal Theory of Life: Searching for Life As We Don't Know It Carol E. Cleland No preview available - 2019 |
Common terms and phrases
abstract acids alternative amino acids animals archaea Aristotle bacteria basic biological biologists bodies causal cell century challenging Chapter characteristics chemical claim closely complex concept contain Darwinian defining definitions designed difficult discovered discovery discussed domain early Earth empirical environment et al eukaryotes evolution evolutionary example experiment explain exploring extraterrestrial familiar functional fundamental genes genetic highly human identified illustration important individual involved known latter laws living living things logical material means mechanisms metabolic microbes microorganisms models molecular molecules motion multicellular natural kind nonstandard novel organisms origin phenomena philosophers physical planet possibility principles problem processes produced promising properties proteins question reason represent reproduction researchers RNA World scientific theories scientists selection single species structure sufficient suggests supposing theoretical thought truly understanding universal widely World