What Makes Something Alive And Why Modern Darwinism Has Failed To Explain It

Have you ever wondered what exactly makes something alive? What distinguishes a living organism from a non-living object? Throughout history, scientists and philosophers have grappled with this question, seeking to unravel the mysteries of life itself.

In modern times, Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection has become the dominant explanation for the diversity of life on Earth. While Darwinism has undeniably contributed immensely to our understanding of life, it does have its limitations when it comes to explaining what inherently defines something as living.

The Characteristics of Life

Living organisms possess certain unique characteristics that set them apart from non-living matter. These characteristics include:

Purpose and Desire: What Makes Something "Alive" and Why Modern Darwinism Has Failed to Explain It

by J. Scott Turner(Kindle Edition)

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	6151 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	347 pages

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• Cellular structure and organization: All living things are composed of cells – the basic unit of life. Non-living objects lack this fundamental structural organization.
• Growth and development: Living organisms have the ability to grow and develop over time. They follow specific patterns of growth, from birth to maturity.
• Metabolism: Living beings utilize energy through metabolic processes such as respiration, digestion, and excretion.
• Response to stimuli: Living organisms can actively respond to external stimuli, showing signs of sensitivity and awareness.
• Reproduction: All living things have the ability to reproduce and pass on their genetic information to the next generation.
• Adaptation: Living organisms possess the ability to adapt to their environment over time, increasing their chances of survival.

Modern Darwinism and its Limitations

While modern Darwinism has successfully explained the mechanisms behind evolution and natural selection, it fails to provide a comprehensive explanation for the core essence of life. Darwinian theory primarily focuses on the "how" of evolution, but not the "why."

According to Darwinism, life emerged as a result of natural selection acting on random variations in traits that provide an adaptive advantage. The theory explains how organisms evolve in response to their environment over generations. However, it does not address the fundamental question of what life truly is.

By reducing life to a series of mechanistic processes, modern Darwinism overlooks the intrinsic qualities that make living organisms unique. It fails to capture the essence of consciousness, sentience, and the subjective experiences associated with being alive. Furthermore, it does not explain the origins of life itself, only focusing on its subsequent diversification and adaptation.

The Quest for a Complete Understanding

While Darwinism remains a cornerstone of biological research, the quest for a complete understanding of what makes something alive continues. Scientists are exploring various avenues, from studying the origins of life on Earth to delving into the mysteries of consciousness and sentience.

Emerging fields such as astrobiology and synthetic biology are shedding light on the possibility of life existing beyond Earth and the potential for artificially creating living organisms. These advancements challenge conventional notions of life and inspire new perspectives on the definition of being alive.

Additionally, philosophers and theologians contribute to the discourse by pondering the philosophical aspects of life, exploring questions related to the existence of a soul or purpose in living organisms.

While modern Darwinism has undoubtedly revolutionized our understanding of evolution, it falls short in providing a complete explanation for what makes something alive. Its focus on the mechanisms of adaptation and diversification leaves unanswered questions regarding the core essence of life, consciousness, and the origins of life itself.

As the pursuit of knowledge continues, scientists, philosophers, and theologians around the world strive to unravel the remaining mysteries of life. Our quest for understanding is only just beginning, and it is through an interdisciplinary approach that we may one day grasp the true nature of what it means to be alive.

So, the next time you contemplate the wonders of life, remember that the answers lie beyond the scope of modern Darwinism.

Purpose and Desire: What Makes Something "Alive" and Why Modern Darwinism Has Failed to Explain It

by J. Scott Turner(Kindle Edition)

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	6151 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	347 pages

FREE

A professor, biologist, and physiologist argues that modern Darwinism’s materialist and mechanistic biases have led to a scientific dead end, unable to define what life is—and only an openness to the qualities of "purpose and desire" will move the field forward.

Scott Turner contends. "To be scientists, we force ourselves into a Hobson’s choice on the matter: accept intentionality and purposefulness as real attributes of life, which disqualifies you as a scientist; or become a scientist and dismiss life’s distinctive quality from your thinking. I have come to believe that this choice actually stands in the way of our having a fully coherent theory of life."

Growing research shows that life's most distinctive quality, shared by all living things, is purpose and desire: maintain homeostasis to sustain life. In Purpose and Desire, Turner draws on the work of Claude Bernard, a contemporary of Darwin revered among physiologists as the founder of experimental medicine, to build on Bernard’s "dangerous idea" of vitalism, which seeks to identify what makes "life" a unique phenomenon of nature. To further its quest to achieve a fuller understanding of life, Turner argues, science must move beyond strictly accepted measures that consider only the mechanics of nature.

A thoughtful appeal to widen our perspective of biology that is grounded in scientific evidence, Purpose and Desire helps us bridge the ideological evolutionary divide.