matate99 asked...
Asked by matate99 - 17/09/09 at 04:09 pmWhat is the definition of life (and does it have subcategories), and consequently is murder the killing of life of only specific subcategories intentionally or all forms of life?
(kyoo-fahy-ah)
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September 17th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
I would probably define life quite broadly as anything that exists in a state where it is reliant upon it’s host environment to sustain itself, when something can no longer sustain itself it dies and ceases to be alive.
As for subcategories, in a simplistic sense I would identify conscious and non-conscious life. Conscious life being those forms of life that have a sensory awareness of their surroundings, such as animals, birds, insects, and arguably some kinds of plant life, and non-conscious life being forms of life that grow, exist, and cease to be, as is the case with the vast majority of plant life.
This may be a little too simplified for some people and I think there is also something to be said for life on a spiritual level, however in really basic terms I am identifying recognised life.
I suppose that you could define murder as killing anything that is conscious and aware of its own existence, however in real terms ‘murder’ is really a human invention applied to killing our own kind. Murder essentially criminalises something, that depending on the particular evolutionary path we have followed, is at the very core of our survival instinct as human beings.
September 19th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
A beautiful answer from mr Mindsets and i agree with it.
Nothing more to say as it has been said. Nice.
September 26th, 2009 at 9:56 am
As with the (sound of the) falling tree in the forest, the practical answer lies within the one who asks the question. Life is just another word for me being aware (of me). It only gets complicated when ‘me’ starts projecting aspects of ‘me’ on that of which ‘me’ feels disconnected (dead). So, there is only one life: you being aware. All subcategories direct to limitations of awareness.