Kee, Terence and McCrum, James (2025) Re-evaluating Boundary Conditions of the Concept of Life. [Preprint]

Text Re-evaluating boundary Conditions in the Concept of Life - Kee, McCrum.docx Download (68kB)

Abstract

It is argued that a central challenge to the task of developing a foundational model for life lies within the implicit propositions of the Western scientific view. These propositions constrain thinking about the concept of life. Three implicit boundary conditions in particular
- life as a property of a system, life as a purely biological phenomenon, and life as a binary concept - are identified, and it is suggested to replace them with three operational principles - synonymity of ’life’ with ’processes of change’; the foundation of change upon interaction; the recursion and integration of change over boundary conditions.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Kee, Terence t.p.kee@leeds.ac.uk 0000-0002-2553-766X McCrum, James jjmcc71@outlook.com 0009-0002-6272-9641
Keywords:	Boundary Conditions, Concept of Life, Recursive, Integrative
Subjects:	General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics Specific Sciences > Complex Systems General Issues > Natural Kinds General Issues > Theory Change
Depositing User:	Dr Terence P Kee
Date Deposited:	04 Nov 2025 12:16
Last Modified:	04 Nov 2025 12:16
Item ID:	27105
Subjects:	General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics Specific Sciences > Complex Systems General Issues > Natural Kinds General Issues > Theory Change
Date:	3 November 2025
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/27105

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