What is life? How does it differ from nonlife?
What is it about?
This is a comprehensive theory on the intriguing phenomenon of life, based on the distinctive difference between living and non-living beings. It offers a concise definition and characterization of enigmatic life. The theory of life presented in this article explains the observed natural phenomena well and enables one to make sound predictions about artificial life.
Why is it important?
An apparent distinct feature of living beings compared to nonliving ones is the observed presence of a higher level of regularity, which is indicative of a supplemental set of governing laws and influences within the sphere of life. The article demonstrates that life is a purposive agency with causal power that actively governs matter rather than an emergent property that passively qualifies matter. The fundamental difference between biology and chemistry is the mysterious life. If there were no life, there would be no biology. The phenomenon of death is simply biology reducing to chemistry.