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#985 Philip Ball - How Life Works: A User’s Guide to the New Biology

The Dissenter

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Life's Essence Lies in Goal-Directedness

Life distinguishes itself from non-living systems through the concept of agency, which embodies the ability of living organisms to adapt and change their environment actively to achieve specific goals. Traditional criteria for life, such as self-replication and metabolism, often fail to encompass the full spectrum of living systems, as evidenced by the existence of complex non-living structures that exhibit similar traits. A more effective understanding of life acknowledges that living entities possess goals and purposes—an essential characteristic not found in non-living entities, regardless of their complexity. This goal-directedness is central to the essence of life and serves as a recurring theme in the study of biology.

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