Life

Life is a term that refers to any number of entities that are capable of response to stimuli as well as having the instinct of either self-preservation or the preservation of another entity. An entity that possesses these qualities is often known as a life form. Death would be considered the cessation of these functions.

Overview

Because of how broad this definition is, it is often easier to determine what is a living being by comparing it to agreed-upon examples of non-living entities. Among the known types of life include biological - organisms made of molecules that comprise of organic compounds, and synthetic, being artificially created by another entity. Both of these classifications of life forms have their own complex taxonomies which are often customized depending on their world of origin.

Some life forms have the distinction of sapience, behaviors beyond what are considered unconscious instincts. The line is often blurry between sapience and non-sapience, but one of the agreed upon criteria involves the ability to learn mathematics and/or solve logical puzzles. Having mastery of these skills would allow a life form to influence the development of their own species beyond what would occur in random, natural evolution.

Determining the sapience of a life form is often crucial in determining ethical courses of action. Creating a single litmus test to determine intelligence is something often considered very difficult. Cultural differences and alternatives in consciousness structure can be so alien that a life form may not be immediately recognized as alive. Thus, the base definition of stimuli response and self-preservation are often considered within the context of the environment the life form either evolved or was created in.