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Towards a taxonomy of life-like systems: An information theoretic view of life
Paper Details
Published: 2025/08/31
Container Title: Workshop in Physics of Self-Organization in Complex Systems, Conference on Complex Systems 2025
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HTMLInformation plays a critical role in complex biological systems. This article proposes a role for information processing in life, lifelike systems and intelligence. I hypothesize that carbon-based life forms are only one amongst a continuum of lifelike systems in the Universe. Investigations into computational substrates that allow information processing is important and could yield insights into novel non-carbon based computational substrates that may have “life-like” properties. I hypothesize that the key components of a computational view of life, lifelike systems and intelligence are: 1) Information processing, 2) information storage (memory), 3) a physical substrate (hardware), 4) information transfer (across both physical space and time), 5) persistence of information across space and time (selection and heredity), and 6) availability of energy. We know a lot about life as we know it (carbon based life)? How would we recognise life and intelligence as we do not know it? Life elsewhere in the Universe may be very different from what we see on Earth. Our conception of life and intelligence are very anthropocentric. We present a taxonomy of lifelike systems, ranging from computer viruses to supernovae, that lie on a continuum. A computational view of lifelike systems may allow us to recognise life in all its myriad forms in this Universe. We also present outreach resources that the general public and students can use to engage with some of these ideas. Life may exist as a continuum between non-life and life, and we may have to revise our notion of life and how common it is in the Universe. Looking at lifelike phenomena and intelligence through the lens of computation may yield a broader view of life and intelligence
