Life / Non-Life Phase Boundary Challenge
LIFE-SC-03
structural canonical
definition boundary
External: externally open
τ response: partially addressed
Where is the boundary between living and nonliving systems? How should viruses, spores, dormant cells, prions, autocatalytic chemical networks, AI systems, synthetic cells, ecosystems, and possible cosmic carriers be classified?
Current τ response
See the paired Life / Non-Life Phase Boundary Challenge — Challenge Response on the Results lane for the program's current response status, registry evidence, verification route, and external-review boundary.
Current status: partially addressed.
Challenge statement
Where is the boundary between living and nonliving systems? How should viruses, spores, dormant cells, prions, autocatalytic chemical networks, AI systems, synthetic cells, ecosystems, and possible cosmic carriers be classified?
Why this challenge is in the ledger
A theory of life must handle edge cases. These cases test whether the definition is principled rather than tailored to familiar organisms.
A theory of life must handle edge cases. These cases test whether the definition is principled rather than tailored to familiar organisms.
τ-facing burden
Show which predicate fails or holds in each liminal case: Distinction, SelfDesc, metabolism, code closure, lineage, or repair. Avoid binary overreach where a graded or phase-boundary account is needed.
First reviewer questions
- Does τ produce extensional results for life / non-life phase boundary challenge?
- Does the framework distinguish promotion from re-description?
- What external review would settle the open questions?
Source anchors
Source anchors are background references, not endorsements of Panta Rhei claims.