Philosophical Aspects of Astrobiology Revisited
Given the idea that Life as we know it is nothing but a special form of a generically underlying dynamical structure within the physical Universe, we try to introduce a concept of Life that is not only derived from first principles of fundamental physics, but also metaphysically based on philosophic...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-07-01
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| Series: | Philosophies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2409-9287/6/3/55 |
| _version_ | 1797517591015587840 |
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| author | Rainer E. Zimmermann |
| author_facet | Rainer E. Zimmermann |
| author_sort | Rainer E. Zimmermann |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Given the idea that Life as we know it is nothing but a special form of a generically underlying dynamical structure within the physical Universe, we try to introduce a concept of Life that is not only derived from first principles of fundamental physics, but also metaphysically based on philosophical assumptions about the foundations of the world. After clarifying the terminology somewhat, especially with a view to differentiating reality from modality, we give an example for a mathematical representation of what the substance of reality (in the traditional sense of metaphysics) could actually mean today, discussing twistor theory as an example. We then concentrate on the points of structural emergence by discussing the emergence of dynamical systems and of Life as we know it, respectively. Some further consequences as they relate to meaning are discussed in the end. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:18:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c5f6aed8722f42499efc698eed3a20e5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2409-9287 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:18:40Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Philosophies |
| spelling | doaj.art-c5f6aed8722f42499efc698eed3a20e52023-11-22T14:49:39ZengMDPI AGPhilosophies2409-92872021-07-01635510.3390/philosophies6030055Philosophical Aspects of Astrobiology RevisitedRainer E. Zimmermann0Institut für Design Science München e.V., D-14197 Berlin, GermanyGiven the idea that Life as we know it is nothing but a special form of a generically underlying dynamical structure within the physical Universe, we try to introduce a concept of Life that is not only derived from first principles of fundamental physics, but also metaphysically based on philosophical assumptions about the foundations of the world. After clarifying the terminology somewhat, especially with a view to differentiating reality from modality, we give an example for a mathematical representation of what the substance of reality (in the traditional sense of metaphysics) could actually mean today, discussing twistor theory as an example. We then concentrate on the points of structural emergence by discussing the emergence of dynamical systems and of Life as we know it, respectively. Some further consequences as they relate to meaning are discussed in the end.https://www.mdpi.com/2409-9287/6/3/55metaphysicsemergence of space and timetwistor theorydynamical systemsastrobiology |
| spellingShingle | Rainer E. Zimmermann Philosophical Aspects of Astrobiology Revisited Philosophies metaphysics emergence of space and time twistor theory dynamical systems astrobiology |
| title | Philosophical Aspects of Astrobiology Revisited |
| title_full | Philosophical Aspects of Astrobiology Revisited |
| title_fullStr | Philosophical Aspects of Astrobiology Revisited |
| title_full_unstemmed | Philosophical Aspects of Astrobiology Revisited |
| title_short | Philosophical Aspects of Astrobiology Revisited |
| title_sort | philosophical aspects of astrobiology revisited |
| topic | metaphysics emergence of space and time twistor theory dynamical systems astrobiology |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2409-9287/6/3/55 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rainerezimmermann philosophicalaspectsofastrobiologyrevisited |