Abstract

One of the central problems in philosophy of artificial life (AL) is whether the artificial life entities we create can be genuine life. Proponents of strong AL believe that the artificial life entities exhibiting characteristics of natural life in a physical or a virtual environment can be real life. Opponents of strong artificial life, however, think that artificial life entities are not real life or just simulation of natural life. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate which view of strong artificial life is valid. The method is to use philosophical theory and logics to analyze the opponents’ arguments. The conclusion is that the opponents’ arguments for denying strong AL are insufficient to exclude the possibility of strong AL.

Highlights

  • Artificial life is a new frontier science arising at the end of 1980s

  • One of the central problems in the philosophy of artificial life is whether the artificial life entities we create can be genuine life

  • The main argument in favor of strong artificial life concerns whether or not artificial life meets the standard of life or definition of life

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Summary

Introduction

Artificial life is a new frontier science arising at the end of 1980s. By using computers as a new experimental tool, researchers in this science try to create artificial entities which exhibit characteristics of natural life in computers or in the outside world (Li, 2004; Li & Zhang, 2006). Some researchers and philosophers of artificial life believe that these man-made systems can be genuine life They think that we can create living artificial life in outside physical environments, and create “living digital creatures” in virtual computer environments (Boden, 1996). These artificial creatures can reproduce themselves, but they can mutate, evolve, and even struggle to get resources from their environments for surviving. According to their views, research of artificial life is significant, but the entities artificial lifers (hereafter “A-lifers”) create in computers are only simulations of real life. This paper first presents both the proponents’ and opponents’ views of strong artificial life, offers a critical review of the opponents’ four main arguments, and states conclusions

Arguments for Strong Artificial Life
Some Arguments against Strong Artificial Life
The Metabolism of Virtual Life Is Not the Same as the Metabolism of Real Life
Life May Not Be Multiply Realizable
Virtual Organisms Are Not Just Formal Things
Strong Metabolism Is Not Necessary
Life Can Be Multiple Realization
Conclusion

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