Is metabolism necessary? /
Boden, Margaret A.
University of Sussex.
University of Sussex.School of Cognitive and Computing Sciences.
Brighton [East Sussex] : University of Sussex at Brighton,
[1998]
Abstract: "Metabolism is a defining criterion of life.  Three senses are distinguished.  The weakest allows the possibility of strong (virtual) A-Life.  The second allows that many A-Life programs are (crude) simulations of real metabolism, and might allow also that (some) non-biochemical A-Life robots are genuinely alive.  The third, which stresses energy-budgeting and equilibrating energy-exchanges of some (necessary) complexity, excludes strong A-Life.  Even A-Life simulations of metabolism are not alive by this criterion.  Nor are A-Life robots, as currently envisaged.  The third sense resembles, but also differs from, 'autopoiesis.'  This concept, too, allows (biochemical) artificial life but not strong A-Life."
"January 1998."
Includes bibliographical references.
Abstract: "Metabolism is a defining criterion of life.  Three senses are distinguished.  The weakest allows the possibility of strong (virtual) A-Life.  The second allows that many A-Life programs are (crude) simulations of real metabolism, and might allow also that (some) non-biochemical A-Life robots are genuinely alive.  The third, which stresses energy-budgeting and equilibrating energy-exchanges of some (necessary) complexity, excludes strong A-Life.  Even A-Life simulations of metabolism are not alive by this criterion.  Nor are A-Life robots, as currently envisaged.  The third sense resembles, but also differs from, 'autopoiesis.'  This concept, too, allows (biochemical) artificial life but not strong A-Life."
Artificial life.
Self-organizing systems.
Metabolism.
Autopoiesis.