What is life? An operational definition

Oderberg, D. S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9585-0515 (2025) What is life? An operational definition. Biocosmos, 5 (1). pp. 12-17. ISSN 2719-8634 doi: 10.2478/biocosmos-2025-0001

Abstract/Summary

One way of defining life is via a real definition, which gives the essence of life. Another approach is an operational definition, which shows how living things can be tested or measured in a way that is distinctive of the biological. Although I give a real definition elsewhere, in this paper I provide an operational definition, echoing Canguilhem’s dictum that life is what is capable of making mistakes. Biological mistakes are central to the behaviour of organisms, their parts and sub-systems, and the collections to which they belong. I provide an informal definition of a biological mistake. I contrast mistakes with mere failures and malfunctions. Although closely related phenomena, each is distinct. After giving some brief examples of mistake-making and how it can be tested, I reply to some objections to the very idea of a biological mistake.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/id/eprint/120349
Identification Number/DOI	10.2478/biocosmos-2025-0001
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Arts, Humanities and Social Science > School of Humanities > Philosophy
Publisher	Sciendo
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