Re: [life] Machines and wholeness - a speculative hierarcy

["John M" <***>]

Jeff,
can you imagine a statue (silly metaphor, but I hope you get the idea) with
both mass (if) and in its reality "closed to efficient cause", standing
there in an exhibit. Is it "life"?

I believe life is a process.

Best regards

John M
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeff Pridaux" <***>
To: <***>
Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2003 1:27 PM
Subject: Re: [life] Machines and wholeness - a speculative hierarcy


> As for the question of whether "closed to efficient cause" is a sufficient
> condition to identify life... or mearly a necessary condition....
>
> Perhaps there is second necessary condition as well.  The entity must also
> have mass.
>
> With this extra condition, closed to efficient cause systems like
> mathematics or religions would not be condsidered alive (just complex).
>
> Only things containing mass would be considered alive if they also were
> closed to efficient cause.