Life
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
(it's interesting that there's no entries on "Life" yet)...
Life
Classifications of Life
There are certain things that classify life.
1) Breathes: inhales one type of gas and exhales another.
2) Reproduces: creates offspring
3) Eats: consumes nutritional substances
4) Excretion: excretes waste
5) Responds to stimuli: responds to external stimulation
If an object has these qualities, it is alive.
Example:
A human being is alive because it breathes in oxygen and exhales carbon dioxide, it reproduces by having children (through a complicated process called sex), it eats, it excretes waste from food, and it responds to external stimuli, such as sound, touch, pain, etc.
Fire is not alive. Fire "breathes" (more consumes) oxygen and releases carbon dioxide, it "eats" wood and other flamible objects, it "excretes" ash, it reproduces by spreading. However, fire does not respond to external stimuli.
Theories on Life
There are many beliefs about life. Some people believe life is a gift, and you must treasure it. Some believe it is a punishment, and you must endure it. Others still believe it is a ride, and you must wait for the end.
There is no correct theory of life. Life is just that, life. It is not totally understood, yet it is not a total mystery.
The Meaning of Life
Some people spend their lives searching for meaning. This is a paradox because this in effect means the meaning of life is to search for the meaning of life. Others think the meaning of life is to be happy, fufill some sort of ultimate goal, find eternal youth, or some other pointless quest. In the end, all life, from bacteria to primates, have only one goal: to be born, procreate, and die. Preserve the species.
Life After Death
No one is certain what happens after death, the end of a life. Primative humans used to believe in a plethora of things. Some theories included an underworld where your heart was tested against the weight of a feather, a dark cave, a river of tortured soals, or a paradise. Most of these beliefs are based on some sort of religion. Most modern religions believe in one of two afterlives: A hell, in which people are tortured for eternity, or a heaven, where people may live in peace forever.
Life
Classifications of Life
There are certain things that classify life.
1) Breathes: inhales one type of gas and exhales another.
2) Reproduces: creates offspring
3) Eats: consumes nutritional substances
4) Excretion: excretes waste
5) Responds to stimuli: responds to external stimulation
If an object has these qualities, it is alive.
Example:
A human being is alive because it breathes in oxygen and exhales carbon dioxide, it reproduces by having children (through a complicated process called sex), it eats, it excretes waste from food, and it responds to external stimuli, such as sound, touch, pain, etc.
Fire is not alive. Fire "breathes" (more consumes) oxygen and releases carbon dioxide, it "eats" wood and other flamible objects, it "excretes" ash, it reproduces by spreading. However, fire does not respond to external stimuli.
Theories on Life
There are many beliefs about life. Some people believe life is a gift, and you must treasure it. Some believe it is a punishment, and you must endure it. Others still believe it is a ride, and you must wait for the end.
There is no correct theory of life. Life is just that, life. It is not totally understood, yet it is not a total mystery.
The Meaning of Life
Some people spend their lives searching for meaning. This is a paradox because this in effect means the meaning of life is to search for the meaning of life. Others think the meaning of life is to be happy, fufill some sort of ultimate goal, find eternal youth, or some other pointless quest. In the end, all life, from bacteria to primates, have only one goal: to be born, procreate, and die. Preserve the species.
Life After Death
No one is certain what happens after death, the end of a life. Primative humans used to believe in a plethora of things. Some theories included an underworld where your heart was tested against the weight of a feather, a dark cave, a river of tortured soals, or a paradise. Most of these beliefs are based on some sort of religion. Most modern religions believe in one of two afterlives: A hell, in which people are tortured for eternity, or a heaven, where people may live in peace forever.
