Villalobos, Mario (2024) Exo-autopoietic bodies: The quest for the theoretical identity of living beings. [Preprint]

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Abstract

Despite the encyclopedic knowledge accumulated in contemporary biology, it is still
frustratingly elusive to find an uncontroversial answer to the (apparently) simple
question, “What are living beings?” Since the traditional approach to answering this
question has been by means of definitions, it has been pointed out that an alternative
might be to change the strategy and, following the example of other sciences, try to
find not a definition but a theoretical identity for living beings. However, according to
some critics, such a move is neither possible nor advisable since current biology,
limited to only earthly samples of life, does not have enough empirical basis and
theoretical development to formulate a theoretical identity for living beings. In this
paper, contrary to this diagnosis, I make room for and propose a theoretical identity
statement for living beings. First, I argue that the limitations to proposing such an
identity are not as severe as it is assumed. Second, I suggest answering the question,
“What are living beings?” with the theoretical identity statement, ‘Living beings are exoautopoietic
bodies.’ I explain this proposal's theoretical grounds and defend it against
potential objections.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Villalobos, Mario mario.kirmayr@gmail.com 0000-0003-0567-2888
Keywords:	living beings; theoretical identity; autopoiesis; thermodynamics; definitions of life
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology General Issues > Natural Kinds General Issues > Philosophers of Science
Depositing User:	Dr Mario Villalobos
Date Deposited:	28 Oct 2024 12:09
Last Modified:	28 Oct 2024 12:09
Item ID:	24118
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology General Issues > Natural Kinds General Issues > Philosophers of Science
Date:	26 October 2024
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/24118

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