About this episode

The episode explores the profound question of what it means to be alive through a discussion with Melanie Challenger.

What does it mean to be alive? In this episode of Breaking Math , Autumn and Noah speak with Melanie Challenger, author of Alive , about one of the most profound questions in science and philosophy: how do we define life? Challenger argues that life is not simply a machine-like process or a bundle of genetic instructions. Living beings are embodied, purposeful agents. From single-celled organisms to sequoia seeds, from animals to human beings, life is marked by an astonishing capacity to work to keep itself alive. Chapters 08:12 The concept of purpose in living beings 09:14 The scientific view of purpose and agency 11:52 The importance of purpose and meaning in life 13:19 The danger of ignoring organism agency in science 14:34 Living beings as purposeful agents 15:35 Comparing purpose in a Roomba and a single-celled organism 18:03 Autopoetic vs allopoetic systems 20:03 Free will, agency, and the universe 23:24 The physical basis of life and energy 28:38 Aristotle's concept of psyche and purpose 33:46 The importance of understanding what life truly is 37:56 Material integration and the difference between machines and living beings 38:15 The concept of self and embodiment in life…

People in this episode

Hosts: Autumn Phaneuf, Noah Giansiracusa

Guest: Melanie Challenger

Topics covered

• definition of life
• purpose in living beings
• agency in organisms
• philosophy of life
• scientific view of life
• autopoetic systems
• free will

Keywords

• life
• purpose
• agency
• organisms
• philosophy
• science
• autopoiesis
• free will

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Alive

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