life

LifeDefinition

Theessenceoflife:process.Fromamacroperspective:everythingislife,thatis,aprocess.Theprocessbasicallyhasthreestages:occurrence,survival,andextinction.Itsbasiccharacteristicisthatmatterisimmortal(exceptfornuclearreactions,whichinfactconformstoGodel'stheorem).Butthestructureofmatterhaschanged(nomatterwhatstage),sotheso-calledlife(whatwecareabout)islogicallythestructureofmatter,whichiscalledinformationinterminology.

Thethreestagesoflifeareactuallytheprocessinwhichmattertransformsfromdisordertoorderandfinallyreturnstodisorder.

Theparticipantsarematterandenergy(infact,bothareenergy),andwhatchangesisthestructureofmatter(becausematterisinmotion).

Thelifethateveryonetalksaboutindailylifeactuallyrefersspecificallyto:organiclife,butitstillmeetsthebasicdefinitionoflife.Thedifference(expansionoftheclass)isthatthistypeoflifehastheabilitytodynamicallyreacttotheoutsideworld.

Lifeisamaterialsystemthatgrowsandchanges.Organiclifeisasubstanceuniquetoastellarenvironmentsuchastheearth.Itiscomposedofwaterasacarrierandhastheabilitytospitouttheoldandtakeinthenew,accuratereplication,andgentlesplitting.Itisirreversiblebutalwaysrepeatsorcontinuestheseabilitiescontinuously.system.Anorganiclifesuchascells,animals,plants,etc.

Accordingtohumanconventions,organiclifeiscalledlifeforshort.Itisnotdifficultforordinarypeopletodistinguishbetweenwhatisaliveandwhatisinanimate.Butascientificdefinitionoflifehasbeenadifficultproblemforthousandsofyears,andithasnotyetbeencompletelyresolved.Thisquestionisdirectlyrelatedtohumans'understandingofthemselves.

Biologicaldefinition

LifeismadeupofnucleicacidandproteinMolecularsystemcomposedofothersubstances,whichhastheabilitytocontinuouslyreproduceoffspringandreacttotheoutsideworld.

Thegeneralscientificdefinitiongivenbymodernbiologyisroughlylikethis:lifeistheself-reproduction,growthanddevelopment,metabolism,geneticvariation,andresponsetostimulishownbyorganisms.Thecompoundphenomenon.Here,anysinglephenomenonisnotuniquetolivingthings.Flamecanalsometabolizeandreproduce,butmostpeoplewouldnotthinkofitaslife.Theseedsofmanyplantscanbepreservedforalongperiodoftimewithoutlifecharacteristics.Forexample,ancientlotusseeds,tardigradeanimals,etc.maynotundergometabolismforalongperiodoftime.Whentheconditionsareappropriate,theywillappeartobealive.Thecompoundphenomenaoforganismssuchasself-reproduction,growthanddevelopment,metabolism,geneticvariation,andresponsetostimuliarecalled"life".

Insomecriticalperiods,biologicalindividualswillnotmanifestlifephenomenaatall,suchasfertilizedeggs,bacteriaandvirusesintheair,variousseeds,andevenhibernatingsnakes.Theyhavenometabolism,nogrowthanddevelopmentandotherlifecharacteristics.However,theyarealsothecategoryoflife.Wecannotcallthem"non-life".Everylifehasitsownwayofsurvival.Theyarepartoflife.Withoutthem,Lifewillend.Forexample,eating,suchashumancommunication,suchassomebehaviorsbeforeanimalcoitus.

Belowweenumeratesomechangesandcharacteristicsoflivingthingstounderstandlife.

Identity

Fromthepointofviewofelementcomposition,amongthemorethan110chemicalelementsthathavebeendiscovered,allkindsoforganismsarenecessaryTherearealmosttenortwentyspecificelements,ofwhichC,H,O,N,P,S,Ca,Mg,andKaccountfortheabsolutemajority.

Fromthepointofviewofmolecularcomposition,theimportantfeatureoforganismsisthattheybasicallycontainorganicsubstancescalledbiomoleculessuchasproteins,nucleicacids,lipids,sugars,andvitamins.Ithasthesamestructuremodeandfunction.Forexample,thegeneticmaterialofalllivingthingsisDNAandRNA,thecatalyticenzymesinthelivingbodyareallkindsofproteins,andallkindsoflivingthingsusehigh-energycompounds(ATP,NADH...),etc.,whichallindicatetheexistenceofchemicalcomponentsinthebiologicalworld.Highdegreeofidentity.

Structure

Thevariouschemicalcomponentsoftheorganismarenotrandomlypiledtogetherinthebody,butarestrictlyordered(strictstructure).Thebasicunitoflifeisthecell(whetherviruses,viroids,prions,etc.belongtothecategoryoflifearestilldebated,buttheyallneedtobewithinthecellstructuretocompletelifeactivitiesnormally).Eachstructuralunitinthecellhasaspecificstructureandfunction.Biologicalmacromolecules,nomatterhowcomplextheyare,arenotlife.Onlywhenmacromoleculesformacertainstructure,orformanorderedsystemlikecells,cantheyexhibitlifephenomena.Lossoforderliness,ifthecellsarebeatenintoahomogenate,lifewillcometoanend.

Thebiologicalworldisamulti-layeredorderedstructure.Therearealsotissues,organs,systems,individuals,populations,communities,Ecosystemandotherlevels.Thestructuralunitsineachlevel,suchastheorgansintheninemajorsystemsofthehumanbody,havetheirownspecificstructuresandfunctions,andtheircoordinatedactivitiesconstituteacomplexlifesystem.

Metabolism

Theorganismisanopensystem,andtheorganismandthesurroundingenvironmentareconstantlycarryingoutmaterialexchangeandenergyflow.Aftersomesubstancesareabsorbedbyorganisms,aseriesofchangesoccurinthem,becomefinalproductsandareexcretedfromthebody,whichiscalledmetabolism.Metabolismisarigorousandorderlyprocess,areactionnetworkcomposedofaseriesofenzymaticchemicalreactions.Iftheorderofthemetabolicprocessisdisrupted,suchassomelinksareblocked,theentiremetabolicprocessmaybedisrupted,lifewillbethreatened,andevenlifecharacteristicsmaydisappear.

Stressful

Biologycanrespondtoexternalstimuli.Includingthetwoprocessesoffeelingstimulusandreaction.Theresultofthereactionistomakeorganisms"seekadvantagesandavoiddisadvantages."Dropasmalldropofaceticacidinadropofparameciumsuspension,andtheparameciumwillswimawayoneafteranother;apieceofrottenfleshcanattractflies;theplant'sstemtipgrowstowardthelight,whichisstressful.

Anxietyisauniversalcharacteristicoforganisms.However,thestressperformanceofanimalsismoreobviousandmorediverse.Thesensoryandmotororgansofanimalsaretheproductsofhighlydevelopedstress.

Steadystate

Nomatterhowtheenvironmentchanges,theorganismmustmaintainthestabilityoftheinternalenvironmentinordertomaintainnormallifeactivities.Morethan100yearsago,C.Bernarddiscoveredthatalthoughtheexternalenvironmentfluctuatesgreatly,mammalsalwayshavecertainmechanismstokeeptheirinternalenvironmentunchanged.Afterthat,WBCannondevelopedthisconcept.Forsteadystate.Later,itwasdiscoveredthatnotonlymammals,butallorganisms,cells,communitiesandevenecosystemsarestablewithouttheinfluenceoffierceexternalfactors.Theyeachhavetheirownspecificmechanismstoensuretheirowndynamicstability.

Growthanddevelopment

Bothorganismscangrowanddevelopthroughmetabolism.Aseedcanbecomeatree,andatadpolecanbecomeafrog.Althoughenvironmentalconditionscanaffectthegrowthanddevelopmentoforganisms,thegrowthanddevelopmentofeachorganismiscarriedoutinaccordancewithacertainsizerange,acertainpatternandastableprocedure.

Inheritanceandevolution

Anyindividualorganismcannotexistforalongtime.Theyproduceoffspringthroughreproductiontocontinuelife.Thesimilarityinmorphologyandphysiologybetweenoffspringandparentsistheresultofheredity.Thedifferencebetweenparentandchildiscausedbymutation.Fromabout3.8billionyearsagotothepresent,theevolutionoforganismsfromsimpletocomplex,fromlowtohighistheresultofevolution.

Adaptation

Eachcreaturehasitsownuniquelivingenvironment,anditsspecificstructureandfunctionarealwayssuitableforthisenvironmentalconditionSurviveandcontinue.Forexample,thestructureoffishgillsissuitableforfishtobreatheinwater,andthelungstructureofterrestrialvertebratesissuitableforterrestrialrespiration.Adaptationisaphenomenonpeculiartolife.

Theadaptationofanykindoforganismtoitsenvironmentisalwaysrelative.Duetogeneticandphenotypicdifferences,individualsofthesamespeciesalwayshavedifferentdegreesofadaptationtotheenvironment.Aslongasthereissuchadifference,evenifitisslight,naturalselectionwilltakeeffect,pushingthegrouptoevolveinadirectionthatismoreadaptabletotheenvironment.

Otherdefinitions

Life,abiologicalbodycomposedofbiologicalmacromoleculessuchasnucleicacidsandproteins,isconstantlyundergoingacomprehensiveformofmovementthatexchangessubstances,informationandenergy.Humanlifeisabiologicalentitywithself-awarenessinacertainsocialenvironment.Humanlifeisahighdegreeofunityofbiologicalattributesandsocialattributes.Humansocialityisthemostessentialfeaturethatdistinguisheshumansfromotheranimallives.Inhumanexistence,theunityofthematerialvalue,spiritualvalueandhumanvalueoflifeshouldbeemphasized.

Becauseofthecomplexityoflife,thereisnoaccuratedefinitionoflife,andwecanonlygraspthecomplexityoftheessenceoflifetodefinelife.

Somepeopledefinelifeas"lifeisacyclicreactionmolecularsystemwithautocatalyticcharacteristics,whichcancirculatewiththeenvironment;throughsynergyandintegration;afunctionallycoupledhypercyclicorganizationformed".Accordingtothisdefinition,thecyclicreactionsofalargenumberofmolecularsystemscancoherentlyevolvethroughsynergy,therebymaintainingastablestate.TheinformationoflifecanbestoredontheDNAofmacromolecules,andcanalsobeamplifiedbythebiochemicalcyclereactionstructureofreplication,transcription,andtranslationtoformanindividual.Thisislife.Accordingtothetraditionaldefinition,avirusisnotacompletelife;accordingtothisdefinition,avirusisacomplete"life".Virusesmustrelyoncellstosurvive;forviruses,cellsaretheirliving"environment",whichcancirculatetogetherwiththeenvironment.

Theconceptofcommoncirculationtranscendstheconceptof"stress",homeostasisandevolutionarefundamental,andgeneticsarenotnecessary(commoncirculationcanbeunderstoodfromanecologicalperspectiveasCo-evolution).

(1)[life]:Theabilityoflivingorganismstoexistandmove

(2)[vitality]:Referstothenatureofthingsthatcansurvive

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(3)[condition]:Referstothequalificationandabilitytoparticipateinacertainactivity

Basicattributes

Self-regulation

SelfRegulationisanessentialattributeoflife.Everymomentofitsexistence,everylifeisconstantlyadjustingthestateofitsvariousinternalfunctions,adjustingitsrelationshipwiththeexternalenvironment.Higherbiologicalself-regulationismulti-level,includingmolecular,cellular,andoverallregulation.Evenprokaryoteshaveself-regulation,anditisachievedthroughavarietyofways.Forexample,bacteriahavetheabilitytosynthesizemanymoleculestheyneed,andwhetheramoleculeissynthesizedornot,andthespeedofsynthesisvarieswithitsinternalstateandenvironment.Themoleculesneededinsidethebacteriaareneitherproducedtoomuchnorfeellacking.Theyarecompletedbytheirownregulatorymechanisms.Thestructuralgeneofthefirstenzymeinamolecularsynthesispathwayhasbothregulatoryfunctions,thatis,thefirstenzymenotonlyfunctionsasanenzyme,butalsoactsasarepressiveprotein.

Ingeneticsandbiochemistry,thisfunctioniscalledtheself-regulatingsystem.ThisregulatorysystemwasfirstdiscoveredinSalmonellahistidinebiosynthesis,andsubsequentlyfoundinbacteriophages,molds,andmammals.Infact,feedbackinhibitionandtheregulationofinducingandrepressingsystemscanalsoberegardedaswaysofbiologicalself-regulation.Becauseinfeedbackinhibition,thefirstenzymeinthebiosyntheticpathwayisreversiblyinactivatedbycombiningwiththeendproductofmetabolism,sothatthesynthesisrateofmanycompoundsisregulated.Intheinductionsystemandtherepressionsystem,eventheproductionoftheenzymeitselfisregulated.Thedifferenceisthatintheinductionsystem,onlywhenthesubstrateispresent,theenzymerequiredforthesubstrateisproduced.Thewayisthatthesubstrateandtherepressorarecombinedandtherepressorisinactivated,therebyturningonthestructuralgene.,Toinducegeneactivity;intherepressorsystem,thefinalproductinhibitstheproductionofenzymesbycombiningtherepressorwiththefinalproducttobeactivated,andthencombinedwiththeoperatorgenetoclosethestructuralgenetoinhibittheenzyme’sproduce.Manybiologicalregulationsystemsarerelativelycomplicated,andtheyoftenhavebothpositiveandnegativeregulationeffectsatthesametime.Thebody'sregulationmechanismisaself-completionprocess,andtheregulationprogramorinstructionisinheritedandinherentinitself,sothistypeofself-regulationsystemisuniquetolife.

Self-replication

Itisafeatureofalivingsystemthatisdifferentfromachemicalsystem.Inanarrowsense,self-replicationreferstotheunwindingofDNAmolecules,theseparationofthetwostrands,andthesynthesisofcomplementarystrands,therebyformingtwonewbutidenticalmolecules.Broadlyspeaking,itincludescelldivisionandreproduction.Intermsofevidence,divisionandreproductionarealsocarriedoutonthebasisofmolecularreplication;intermsofresults,twoidenticalindividualsareformed.Duetotheperiodicityofbiologicalreproduction,andatthesametime,duetodiseases,hybridizationandotherreasons,someorganismswilllosetheirreproductivecapacity,soreproductionisdifficulttobethebasicattributeoflife.Butself-replicationisdifferent.Aslongasitisnotalifeinadisintegratedstate,thereisalwaysself-replication.Therefore,itisanattributethroughoutthelifeprocess.Ininvitroexperiments,celllysatesstillmaintainDNAsynthesisundercertainconditions,andsomesingle-strandedDNAcanalsobeconvertedintodouble-strandedformunderartificialconditions.However,non-livingsystemsthemselvescannotachieveDNAreplication.AlthoughDNAcanbereplicatedbygivingvariousnecessarynucleotides,helicases,polymerases,ligases,etc.underartificialconditions,theresultingprocessisshort-lived.Thefunctionofself-replicationisaninherentfeatureoflifesystems.

Selectivereaction

Selectivereactiontotheinternalandexternalenvironmentisanotherimportantfeatureoflivingsystems.Reactionisanattributeofbothnon-livingmatterandlivingmatter.Thedifferenceisthatthephysicalandchemicalreactionsthatoccurinnon-livingsubstancesarenotself-completedprocesses.Onlybiologicalorganismsreactindependently,andthisindependentreactionisselective.Itiscontrolledbytheorganismitselfandvarieswiththeenvironmentalconditionsinsideandoutsidethebody.Althoughthecellexchangessubstanceswiththeoutsideworld,diffusionandosmosisalsoexist,butwhatthecellmembraneabsorbsandexcludesishighlyselective.Anobviousexampleisthatintheactivetransportofthecellmembrane,thesubstancemovesagainsttheconcentrationgradient.Foranotherexample,E.colicanusebothglucoseandlactoseasacarbonsource.Whentherearebothglucoseandlactoseintheenvironment,themetabolicreactionofEscherichiacolifirstusesglucoseinsteadoflactose.Atthistime,onlytheconstituentenzymesareatwork,andtheinducedenzymesareirrelevant.

Theselectivereactionoforganismsisalsotheresultofcoordinatedactivitiesofseveralsystems.Thisistrueforsimpleprokaryotes,andevenmoresoforselectivereactionsofhigherorganisms.Becausetherearevariousenzymesystemsinhigherorganisms,theseenzymesarenotonlyincomparabletoinorganiccatalystsfortheirhigh-efficiencycatalysis,butalsohavestrictselectivity.Atthesametime,theactivityofenzymesintheorganismisregulatedandcontrolledbymanyfactors.Theinteractionbetweenenzymesandenzymesandbetweenenzymesandotherproteinswillaffecttheactivityofenzymes,andtheproductofoneenzymeaffectstheactivityofanotherenzyme.Activityalsohasapositiveornegativeeffect.

Intheexternalbehavior,theselectivereactionoforganismsismoreobvious.Forexample,animalsinafull-fedstatedonotrespondtofood;novelmotivescanattracttheattentionofanimalsatfirst,butovertime,theirresponsebecomesweak,andsoon.Infact,anyorganism'sresponsetotheenvironmentistohavesomereaction,somenon-reaction,orthesamemotivesometimesappearsinthisformofreaction,andsometimesinanotherformofreaction.

Purpose

The19thcenturyGermanphilosopherSchopenhauer(1996)oncelistedthethreeinstinctsoflife-survival,reproductionandmaternallove.XiePing(2014)pointedoutthatmaternallovehasnomeaninginlowerlife.Likemanysingle-celledorganisms,theirlifebehavioristocontinuouslydivideintotwo,repeatingthesimpleprocessofcellgrowth-division-growth..Maternalloveshouldbeacommoninstinctbehaviorinhigheranimals,andinsomespecies,itcanevensurpassitself.

Mono(1977)believesthatanimalsandplantshavesuchnatureandpurpose:"Plantsgrow,seeksunlight,anddie;Femalesfight...Allthesecreatureshaveonegoal:toliveandkeeptheirdescendantsalive,evenatthecostofdeath."

Somepeoplealsobelievethat"thepurposeofalivingbeingistosurvive,competeandmultiply',developevolutionandtransformtheuniverseandenergy'",competitioncanbeseenasawayofsurvivalOfcourse,thephenomenonofcooperationcanalsoberegardedasakindofcompetitioninabroadsense.Thiskindofcooperationcanoccurbetweenspecies(suchasreciprocalsymbiosis)orwithinspecies(suchasanimalgrouphuntingordefensivebehavior).AsWilliams(2001)said,agroupcomposedofinteractingindividualsmaybeadaptivelyorganizedinsuchawaythatindividualinterestsaresubordinatedtogroupintereststhroughafunctionalaffiliation.

Therefore,XiePing(2014)believesthatalllife(belongingtoaspecificspecies)musthavethreeintrinsicprimitivepurposes,whicharerelatedtofood,survivalandreproduction.Theyare:

①Enjoyingabathinthesun(ofcourseunderthepremiseofpropernutrientsandmoisture)istheinherentpurposeofallplants,andobtainingorganicmattersynthesizedbyplants(forcarnivores,(Indirect)Thisistheinherentpurposeofallanimalsandmanyheterotrophicmicroorganisms.

②Survival(atleastbeforereproductionissuccessful)isthesecondintrinsicpurposeofalllivingindividuals,althoughthemalesofmanyspeciesdieimmediatelyaftermating(whatacruellifeprogramisthis)).Survivalisalsothebasisfortheexistenceofindividualsurvivalcompetitionandadaptation.

③Reproductionormatingisthethirdintrinsicpurposeofalllife,whetherthroughasexualorsexualmeans.Withoutit,maybetherewouldbenosplendorofflowersandbutterfliesinnature,nocharmingbirdchirping,andnomalesfightingtothedeathforlove....Ofcourse,withoutreproduction,anyspecieswillceasetoexist.

AstheancientRomanpoetLucretiussaid,"Thedivinejoy,thethingsthattheguideoflifetemptspeopletoapproach.Sheisaguideforpeopletoleadtheway,thepurposeistopassherloveThecunningtricksofhumanbeingsmakehumanbeingsalwaysreproducenewgenerationstoavoidextinction"(LukeLexiu1981).

Self-regulation,self-replication,selectiveresponse,andpurposeareimportantcharacteristicsthatdistinguishlifefromnon-life.Thesecharacteristicsoflifesystemsareundoubtedlyphysicalandchemicalprocesses,whichobeythelawsofphysicalchemistry.However,theresultsofthesephysicalandchemicalchangeshavebeentransformedintothingsoflifeandbecomeuniqueattributesoflife.Althoughoneofthesefourbasicattributes,orcertainaspectsofacertainattribute,mayalsoexistintheinorganicworld,itisonlyinlifethatthesefourattributescanbelinkedandcombinedwitheachotherinasystem.

AncientViewonLife

TheancientGreekphilosopherstendedtocallalltheunknowncausesofmovement"force."Laterscholarshaveborrowedtheconceptof"force"tostudyvariousmotions,suchas"gravity"and"electromagneticforce"inphysics,"affinity"inchemistry,andsoon.Researchhasachievedmanyresults,butitisstillunclearwhattheso-called"vitality"or"vitality"wasputforwardbyancientGreekphilosophers.

AncientChinesephilosopherstendtoattributetheunknowncausesofmovementto"qi",andlifeisregardedasanactivityof"qi".Forexample,"Thebirthofhumanbeings,thegatheringofqi,thegatheringislife,andthedispersingisdeath.Therefore,itissaidthatthewholeworldwillleadtoonebreath.""Qi"isalsoanunclearconcept,anddifferentscholarshaveverydifferentinterpretations,suchas:"Thebirthofhumanbeingsisstillice,watercondensesandturnsintoice,andQiaccumulatesandbecomeshuman."Here,theformationoflifeislikenedtoknots.Theiceprocessalsocompareslifetofire,suchas:"Peoplelivewithaura,diewithexhaustion,anddiewithtearsandextinguish.Forexample,whenthefireisexhausted,thereisnolight.Therefore,extinguishingfire.Apartfromthat,thereisnofire;afterdeath,thereisnosoul."Thisviewemphasizesthatlifeisanignorantmetabolicprocess.AncientChinesephilosophersregardedlifeasaprocessofmaterialmovementandoftendiscussedlifeanddeathtogether.ThisisalsothethinkingcharacteristicoftheintegrationofChinesephilosophy.Life,soweknowdeath",regardlifeastheoppositeofdeath.

SpecialCreationTheory

Itisbelievedthatlifeiscreatedbysuper-materialforcessuchasgodsorgods,ordeterminedbysometranscendingmatter.Thisisaconceptthatemergedwhenhumanshavealowabilitytounderstandnature,andwaslaterusedoccasionallyorunintentionallybysocializedideologies,causingthosewhoadvocatetheabsolutesupremacyofspirittofirmlybelieveinthetheoryofspecialcreation.

Thetheoryofself-birth

Inancienttimes,people'sabilitytounderstandnaturewaslow,buttheywereabletoengageinabstractthinkingactivities.Basedonthephenomenon,theyconcludedthatlifeoccurrednaturally.RepresentativethoughtsincludetheancientChinese"meatsaprophyticmaggots,fishwitheredworms",GreekAristotle's"somefishdevelopedfromsiltandgravel"andsoon.

TheoryofItsBirth

Withthedeepeningofpeople'sunderstanding,theyrealizedthatmaggotsareproducedbyflies.AfterPasteur,peoplebelievedthatlifewasproducedbyparentsandspores,namelyLifecannothappennaturally.Buttheorigintheorydoesnotanswerhowtheoriginallifewasformed.

Buddhistlifetheory

Sun,moon,stars,dust.Wind,fire,thunder,electricity,magnetism.Gold,wood,water,fire,andeartharethelowermanifestationsoftheyinandyangenergyflowintheuniverse.Onlywiththebasicnaturalelementconditionscanlifebebred.

BuddhaShakyamunisaid:"Allbeingsareequal."Thelifeheregenerallyreferstothosewhohavetheabilitytobreatheandcontinue.Breathingisanadvancedwayofexpressingyinandyanginalivingbody.

SpiritualFatalism

Everythingintheuniverseismadeupof"spirits",everythingisconstructedbythewillofGod,manistheindividualizationofthespiritoftheuniverse,andthesecretoftheuniverseliesinHumanbeingsthemselvesneedtobeinterpreted.Manhimselfisasingleuniverse,thetemplecorrespondstothepositionofthesun,andtheheartcorrespondstothepositionoftheearth.Theancientpeople’s"harmonyofnatureandman"meansthatallthingschangewillhaveacorrespondinginevitableinternalconnection.Inasense,the"threeflowersgathertogethertotopthefivevitals"ofChinesemedicineistherelationshipbetweenhumanbeingsandthedevelopmentofthemovementoftheuniverse..Theentireuniverseandtheworldareaharmoniousunity,andnothingcanescapethislawofharmonyandcannotexistinisolation.Lifeis"Qi"inthesky,"Qi+type"intheearth,"Qi+type+affection"inthematerial,and"Qi+type+emotion+righteousness"inman.Thedifferencebetweenhumanbeingsinheavenandearthandotherthingsliesinaffection."Peoplearedifferentfromanimalsandanimals,butthecommonpeoplewillgoaway,andthegentlemanwillkeepthem."ThisisMencius'sfamoussaying.

Thebirthofalifecarrierisnotsimplycomposedofasinglecell,itisanexternalreflectionofaninnerspiritualindividual.Thiskindofspiritualindividualiscontrarytootherthings,andthereareinherentindividualdifferences.Lifeisnotfromnothing,butaprocessofgradualunfolding.Everystepisthrillingandpainful.Intheexistenceandindividualcompositionofanyvitalsigns,onlythespiritisanindispensableandimportantpart.Thespiritcanendowallthingswithcontinuousupwardpoweranddominatethechangeandevolutionoftheentireuniverse.Aseed,agrass,atree,andeverythingthatisaliveonthegroundshouldbeexplainedusingspiritualdefinitions.Withoutspirit,thisworldisequivalenttodestruction.

Thetheoryoftotalclosureoftheuniversebelievesthat"now"correspondstothefutureoracertainpointinthepast.Thefutureisnotimpossibletopassthrough,andhistoryisnotimpossibletochange,butitlacksnecessaryconditions.Withthecontinuousdeepeningofhumancognitioninthefuture,theinterpretationoflifeanddeathandtheunderstandingofhumanselfwilltendtobetrueandperfect.

ModernViewofLife

Aftertheemergenceofmodernscience,thedefinitionoflifesummarizedaccordingtothecharacteristicsoflifeforms,peoplearestudyingnaturalphenomenaindifferentcategories.Differentsciencesstudylifefromdifferentangles,sotheirviewsonlifearedifferent.Beforethe1950s,peoplesummarizedadefinitionof"life"fromthecommonsurfacecharacteristicsofalllifeforms:Lifeisamaterialandenergyexchangewiththeenvironment,growthandreproduction,geneticvariation,andresponsetostimuli.Characteristicmaterialsystem.Thisdefinitiondescribesthegeneralcharacteristicsoflifeactivitiesandhasacertainvalueforscientificunderstanding.Butwiththedevelopmentofscience,peopleincreasinglyfeelthatthisdefinitionhasgreatlimitations.Becauseallthesefeaturescanhavesomeexceptions.

ChemicalEvolutionTheory

Itadvocatestostudytheoriginoflifefromthelawofmovementandchangeofmatter.Itisbelievedthatundertheconditionsoftheprimitiveearth,inorganicmattercanbetransformedintoorganicmatter,andorganicmattercandevelopintobiologicalmacromoleculesandmulti-molecularsystemsuntilprimitivelifeformsfinallyappear.TheSovietscholarA.N.Opalinfirstproposedthisviewin1924,andin1929theBritishscholarJ.B.S.Haldanealsopublishedasimilarview.Theyallbelievethatlifeontheearthisevolvedfromnon-livingmatteroveralongperiodoftime.Thisprocessiscalledchemicalevolution,whichisdifferentfromthebiologicalevolutionaftertheemergenceoforganisms.

Opalin's"OriginofLifeonEarth",publishedin1936,istheworld'sfirstmonographontheoriginoflifecomprehensively.Hebelievesthatthereducingatmospherewithoutfreeoxygenontheprimitiveearthcangeneratesimpleorganicmatter(smallbiologicalmolecules)undertheactionofenergysuchasshort-waveultravioletrays,andsimpleorganicmattercangeneratecomplexorganicmatter(biologicalmacromolecules),andformamulti-molecularsystemintheprimitiveoceanAfteralongperiodofevolutionand"naturalselection",thelatterfinallyappearedprimitivelife,theprotist.Therearemoreandmoreexperimentalevidencesofchemicalevolution,whichhasbeenacceptedbymostscientists.

Hegel'sViewonLife

Theconceptof"life"isacoreconceptforHegel.Intheearlydays,inordertosolvetheproblemofhumanalienation,Hegelproposed"life"Thisconceptoftheunityofsoulandbody,subjectivityandobjectivenessmakeslifefree.Inthelaterperiod,Hegelevenlogicalizedlifeasadirectconcept.Atthesametime,heproposedthreelifeconcepts:logicallife,naturallife,andspirituallife,whichgeneralizedtheconceptoflife,andintegratedthewholeworldandthewholeworld.Theideologicalsystemisregardedasanorganiclifebody.MarxbelievesthattherationalcoreofHegel'sthoughtliesinhisdialecticalthought.Hegelbundlesdialecticsandideasfordiscussion.Therefore,thediscussionofdialecticalthoughtdoesnottakeupmuchspaceinHegel'swritings.ButitcannotbedeniedtheimportantpositionofdialecticsinHegel'sthought.DialecticsisthesoulandcoreofHegel'sthought.Dialecticsisinherentintheidea,anditistheinnermostlinkoflifeandspirit.Theideaof​​directness,thatis,themovementofHegel'sso-called"life"makesdialecticsadialecticofspeculation,andtheinnersourceofadialecticoffreemovementthatcancarryoutself-reflection,self-sublation,andreturntoself.ForHegel,lifeorconceptisaspiritualthing.ThesoulofHegel’sdialecticsistheself-movementoflifeandspirit,thatis,theactivenegativemovementoftheconceptualself.Negativitymakestheconceptordialecticalmovementbecomepossible.

Engels'ViewonLife

In"Anti-DuhringTheory",Engelsgaveadefinitionoflife:lifeistheexistenceformofproteinbody.Thebasicfactorofthisformofexistenceliesinthecontinuousmetabolismwiththeexternalnaturearoundit,andoncethismetabolismstops,lifewillcease,andtheresultisthedecompositionofprotein.

ThisdefinitionofEngelswasputforwardonthebasisofcriticizingDuhring'sdefinitionoflife.DuLinoncedefinedlifeas"themetabolicactivityofcells".Engelsbelievesthatadvancedorganismsareindeedcomposedofsimpletypesof"cells",butthereareorganismslowerthancells,andtheyarerelatedtoadvancedorganismsonlybecausetheirbasiccomponentisprotein,sotheyperformthefunctionofprotein.Functions-lifeanddeath.

Engels'sdefinitionoflifeisunifiedwithhisthoughtsonthemovementformofmatter.Engelsbelievedthattherearefiveformsofmovementinnature:mechanicalmovement,physicalmovement,chemicalmovement,lifemovementandsocialmovement.Fromahistoricalpointofview,thesefiveformsofmotionreflectthesequenceofevolutionanddevelopmentofthenaturalworld,andeachofthelatterformsofmotionevolvedfromthepreviousformsofmotion.Differentformsofmovementhavedifferentmaterialbearersanddifferentlawsofmovement.High-levelformsofmovementincludelow-levelformsofmovement.Lifemovementisakindofadvancedmovement,whichisdevelopedfromchemicalmovement.Itsmaterialbeareranditsmovementlawsaredifferentfromchemicalmovement,butlifemovementincludeschemicalmovement.Engelsemphasizedthecontinuityofnatureatthetime.Iflifeisdefinedasanactivityabovethecellstructure,itisdifficulttoexplaintheoriginoflife.Engelspaidspecialattentiontothedialecticaldevelopmentprocessfromtheinorganicworldtotheorganicworld,soEngelschoseproteosomeasthematerialforlifeactivities.

"Here,theproteinbodyisunderstoodaccordingtothemeaningofmodernchemistry.Modernchemistryincludeseverythingthatissimilarinstructuretoordinaryproteinsoralsocalledproteinsintheconceptofproteinbodies.Thenameproteinbodyisinappropriate,becauseordinaryproteinisthemostinanimateamongallthesimilarsubstancesandplaysthemostpassiverole.Togetherwitheggs,itisonlythenourishmentforembryonicdevelopment,butintheproteinbodyWhenthechemicalstructureofisnotclearatall,thisnameisbetterthanallothernamesbecauseitismoregeneral.”ItcanbeseenthattheproteinbodyreferredtobyEngelsisbroad,anditisnotevenakindofpolymerinthemodernsense.,Butaphysicalsystem.Engelsusedthistermondifferentoccasions,andhesometimesevencalledcells"proteinpieces".Forexample,hesaid:"Allorganisms,exceptthelowestlevel,aremadeupofcells.Theyareallmadeupofsmallpiecesofproteinthatcanonlybeseenafterahighdegreeofmagnification,andhaveanucleusinside."Inshort,EngelsEquallifeandproteinbodies.Lifeis"inherenttoprotein,itisbornwithit,withoutthisprocess,proteincannotexist."

Inthefirsthalfofthe20thcentury,withtheadvancementofbiochemistry,peoplebecameawareofthestructureandfunctionofprotein.Withmoreandmoreclearunderstanding,proteinshavecomplexshapesanddifferentfunctions,andtheirrolesinlifeactivitiesareextremelyimportant.Allthismakesmanypeoplebelievethatthemolecularbasisoflifeisprotein.

The"proteinbody"mentionedbyEngelsreferstonucleicacidandprotein.Inotherwords,thereisnolifewithoutprotein.ThisfundamentallydeniesGod’screationofhumanbeings.Engels'definitionofliferevealstoacertainextentthematerialbasisoflife,thatis,proteinbodieswithmetabolicfunctions.For100years,thisdefinitionhasbeenguidingpeopletounderstandthethinkingoflife.

Engelsboldlyproposedthatsincelifeisanadvancedformofmaterialmovement,aslongastheconditionsareright,thefloweroflifecanofcoursealsobloomonotherplanets.Modernastronomersaffirmthisstatement.

Cosmicembryoseedtheory

Withthegreatdevelopmentofastronomy,peopleproposedthatlifeonearthoriginatedfromotherplanetsorthe"embryoseed"oftheuniverse.Thisunderstandingwaspopularinthe19thcentury.

Thefactthatallorganismshaveaunifiedgeneticcodeandtherareelementmolybdenumhasaspecialandimportantroleinenzymesystemsprovidesomesupportforthisargument.

MolecularBiology

Tosummarizethedefinitionoflifefromthecommonnessofthemicroscopiccompositionoflifematter.Accordingtotheresearchofmolecularbiology,peoplehaveamoredetailedunderstandingofthebasicsubstancesthatconstitutelifeactivities.Theshape,size,andstructureoflivingorganismscanvarygreatly,buttheyareallmadeupoflargemoleculessuchasdeoxyribonucleicacid(DNA),ribonucleicacid(RNA),andproteins.

DNAisaverylongmolecularchaincomposedoffourdifferentsmallmolecules(monomers)calleddeoxynucleotides,arrangedinacertainorder.DNAsuchasEscherichiacoliisalongchaincomposedofabout20,000deoxynucleotidemolecules.Invariousformsoflife,DNAisequivalenttobookswithdifferentlengths,differentarrangementorders,anddifferentmeaningswrittenbythesameletters.RNAisalsoamolecularchainmadeupoffourdifferentmonomerscalleddeoxyribonucleotides.ThesituationissimilartoDNA,butthechainisshorter.Variousformsoflifeformshavevariousmolecularchainsofdifferentlengths.RNAproteinisalongchainmoleculeconnectedby20differentaminoacidmonomersinacertainorder.Invariouslivingorganisms,therearevariousproteinchainswithdifferentlengthsofmonomersarranged,andthefoldingandcurlingshapesofthechainsarealsodifferent.Inshort,theDNA,RNAandproteinofvariousorganismsarecomposedoffourdeoxynucleotides,fourdeoxyribonucleotidesand20aminoacidmonomers,whichmeansthattheyareallcomposedofcommon"elements".Thefunctionsofthesenucleicacidsandproteinsinthelifeactivitiesofvariousorganismsarebasicallythesame.

BecauseDNAcanreplicatebyitself,lifematerialshavetheabilitytoreproduceandinherit.BecauseDNAcandeterminethestructureofRNAandproteinthroughtranscriptionandtranslation,therebycontrollingthemorphologicalstructureandphysiologicalfunctionsoforganisms,theprocessesofreplication,transcriptionandtranslationrequiretheparticipationofproteinenzymesandRNA.Inthisway,thereisamolecularbiologydefinitionoflife:Lifeisproducedbytheinteractionofnucleicacidsandproteins,especiallyenzymes,cancontinuetoreproduceMaterialfeedbackloopsystem.

Thisstatementisadescriptionofthemicrostructureoflivingmatteranditsmovementprocess.Itsummarizessomeimportanttheoreticalbreakthroughsinmolecularbiology,buttherearestillsomeunclearboundaries.Thereisaclassofthingsinnaturecalled"viruses".Virusesarejustnakedcircularnucleicacids,whicharecomposedofnucleicacidchainsandproteinshells.Whentheyexistalone,theyarelikeapurechemicalsubstanceandcanbecrystallized.Inthespecifichostcell,the"machines"ofthesupplyofmonomerenergy,replication,transcriptionandtranslationinthehostcellcanbeusedtoreproducethemselves.Inaddition,therearesimilarsituationswithviruses.Arethesesubstancesalive?Somepeoplebelievethataslongastheycancontroltheirownreproductionandgeneticvariationandreactindependentlytoevolutionaryforces,theyshouldbecalledlife.Ifyousaythis,thenviruses,phages,plasmidsandotherobjectscanallbeclassifiedaslivingorganisms.Othersbelievethatlifemustbeabletoreplicate,transcribe,andtranslateindependently.Virusesandplasmidsareanincompleteformoflife.Theyareallparasiticandcannotexistindependently.Thelatterviewcannotbeademarcationboundaryforacleardefinitionoflife.Becauselifeformshaveneverbeenanisolatedexistence,lifeanditssurroundingenvironmentareinseparablyconnectedwithotherlife.Thismakeswhatisindependentlifeandwhatisparasiticlifelosesitsclearmeaning.Therefore,itisnecessarytostudytheoutlookonlifefromamacroperspective,thatis,fromecology.

Biophysics

Biophysicsfocusesonspecifyingthecharacteristicsoflifefromthegenerallawsofmattermovement.

Orderandentropy.Matterandenergyareconserved.Thereisnomaterialexchangebetweentheearthandtheoutsideworld,onlytheenergyobtainedfromsolarradiation,andtheenergyisreflectedandradiatedintospace.Theenergyradiatedbythesuntotheearthisequaltotheenergyreflectedbytheearthandradiatedintospace.Althoughthereisnosignificantchangeinthematterandenergyoftheearth,variouselementsontheearthhavedifferentreactionsduetosolarradiationandproducedifferentmotions.Thesemotionshaveledtotheunevendistributionofmatterontheearth.Theimpactoftheenergyflowcausedbysolarradiationontheearthisstable,rhythmicandregularoveralongperiodoftime,sotheunevendistributionoftheearth'smatterisalsorhythmicandregular.Thiscreatesanorderlystateofthedistributionandmovementoftheearth'smatter.

Thesecondlawofthermodynamicsusesafunctioncalled"entropy"tomeasuretheuniformityofasystem.Anisolatedsystem,thatis,asystemwithoutmaterialandenergyexchangewiththeoutsideworld,motionalwaysincreasesentropy(disordervalue).Whentheentropyreachesitsmaximumvalue,themacroscopicmaterialmovementwillstopandreachthermodynamicequilibrium.Atthistime,thesystemisinauniformanddisorderedstate.Theearthisnotanisolatedsystem,butaclosedsystem,thatis,asystemthatonlyexchangesenergywiththeoutsideworldwithoutmaterialexchange.Itreceivestheenergyradiatedbythesunandatthesametimereflectsandradiatesenergytospace.Theenergyradiatedbythesunmakesthesun'ssurfacehightemperature(about5800°C).Accordingtothedefinitionofentropy,thesunbelongstoarelativelylowentropyarea.Sincetheearth'ssurfacetemperatureismuchlowerthanthatofthesun,theenergyreflectedbytheearthtothesunisinarelativelyhighentropyarea,whichcanbedescribedbythisformula:

hereSrepresentsentropy,dS/dtrepresentstherateofchangeofentropyovertime.Qrepresentsenergy,anddQ/dtistherateofchangeofenergyovertime.TsunandTearthrepresentthesurfacetemperatureofthesunandthesurfacetemperatureoftheearth.Ifthisformulaislessthan0,itmeansthattheentropyoftheearthisdecreasingduringthetransformationofthesun.Thematterandenergyontheeartharethusinanunevenandorderlystate.

Lifeisanopensystem,ithasnotonlyenergytransformation,butalsomaterialexchangewiththeoutsideworld.Lifeactuallyobtainshigh-entropymaterialandenergyintheformoffoodfromtheenvironment,convertsthemintoalow-entropystateanddischargeswastefromthebody,therebykeepingitsentropylowerthanthatoftheenvironmentLevel,thatis,maintainingitsownorderlystate.Theorderoflivingorganismsisobviousfromthemolecularlevel.Largemoleculessuchasnucleicacidsandproteinshaveacertainorderinvariouscells,andevenanecosystemhasacertainspatialstructure.Orderlinessisnotonlymanifestedinspatialdistribution,butalsointhelawsoflifeactivities:growth,development,reproduction,aging,death,andregularresponsestoexternalstimuli.Fromathermodynamicpointofview,thesephenomenaareallcausedbysolarradiation,butonlylifeisactiveontheearth,andtheemergenceoflifemusthaveitsowninternalfactors.

Mechanismandvitality.Therehavebeencontroversiesovertheoriginoflifeandtheessenceoflifeforalongtime.Mechanicaltheoryissometimescalledreductiontheory.Itbelievesthatlifephenomenacanbeclarifiedbythelawsofphysicalscience,andadvancedandcomplexlawscanbereducedtosimplerandmorebasiclaws.Thevitalitytheoryregardslifeasakindofmachine,andadoptsdifferentformsofexpressionindifferentperiods.Watchmachinerywasveryfashionableinthe16thand17thcenturies.Somepeoplebelievedthatmicroorganismswerenothingmorethanclock-likemachines.Inthe19thcentury,thesteamenginewasinvented.Othersthoughtthatbiologywasnothingmorethana"heatengine."

Ecology

Accordingtotheknownfacts,inthesolarsystem,lifeactivitiesareonlyfoundintheearth’sbiosphere-fromtheatmosphereabout20kilometersabovethesurfacetomorethantenkilometersabovethesurface.Inthedepths,thisrelativelynotthickspacecomposition.

Inthebiosphere,somelifehaschlorophyllandcancarryoutphotosynthesis.Mostplants,cyanobacteriaandsomebacteriabelongtothistypeoflife.Someorganismsdonothavechlorophyll,donotcarryoutphotosynthesis,andmustrelyontheingestionofautotrophicorganismsorotherorganismsforfoodtosurvive,whicharecalledheterotrophicorganisms.Fungi,animals(includinghumans),andmostbacteriabelongtothistypeoforganism.Inorganicsubstancesinthebiosphereentertheorganismthroughphotosynthesisofautotrophicorganisms.Someofthemreturntotheinorganicworldthroughthemetabolicactivitiesofautotrophicorganisms,andsomeareingestedbyheterotrophicorganisms,andreturntotheinorganicworldthroughtheirmetabolicactivities.world.Mostplantstalksandanimalcarcassesareeventuallydegradedbysaprophyticorganisms(alsoheterotrophicorganisms)andeventuallyreturntotheinorganicworld.Inthisway,acirculationofmaterialmovementinthebiosphereisformed.Thiskindofcyclicmovementisunilateralandirreversible.Inthiscirculatorymovement,whichoneismissingorthatoneisnotsmoothwillaffecttheentirebiologicalworld.Withoutautotrophicorganismsorinsufficientautotrophicorganisms,heterotrophicorganismsareofcoursedifficulttosurvive;butonlyautotrophicorganisms,withoutheterotrophicorganisms,cannotdegradeafteralargeamountoforganicmatteraccumulates,whichwillalsoblockthewayforautotrophicorganismstocontinuetosurvive.

Fromthesimpleformofmatter,forexample,thecarbonelementintheatmosphereintheformofcarbondioxide,throughthephotosynthesisofautotrophTherespirationoftheorganismitselfbecomescarbondioxideandreturnstotheatmosphere,andtherestisusedbyvariousheterotrophicorganismsandreturnstotheinorganicworldthroughtheirbreathing.Inthisway,acarbonelementcycleisformed.Thiscyclemustalsobecombinedwithmanyotherelements(suchashydrogen,oxygen,nitrogen,phosphorus,sulfur,etc.)inlife,coupledwithchemicalreactions,andatthesametimepromotetheseelementsinspace.Performcyclicexercises.Suchacyclenotonlyexistsinthemacroscopicbiosphere,butalsoexistsinthemicroscopicmovementoforganisms.Ecologyregardslifeasisthecentrallinkofvariousirreversiblematerialcirculationprocessesinthebiosphere.Butitonlydescribestheexternalconditionsoflifeandtheplacewhereitislocated,anditdoesnotspecifythequalitativecharacteristicsoflifeitself.

TheoryofContradiction

Eachtimethestringvibrates,elementaryparticlesandnaturalforcesaregenerated,andthecombinationofthetwowillfurthergenerateallthingsintheuniverse.Andtheeffectproducedbytheinertiaofelementaryparticlesandtheactionofnaturalforcesisexactlyapairofcontradictions-inertiamaintainsthebalanceandtheeffectcauseschanges.Therefore,inertiamaintainsbalanceandchangescausedbyactionisthemostbasiccontradictionofthepropertiesofmatter.Itisthiscontradictionthatdrivestheevolutionofmatterfrominorganicmattertoorganicmattertoprimitivelifetoanimalsandplantstohumans.

Inertiamaintainingbalanceexternalizesthemetabolismoflifeandinternalizestheinheritanceoflife;theeffectofcausingchangesexternalizesthebirth,aging,sicknessanddeathoflife,andinternalizesthemutationoflife.Inertiamaintainsbalanceandchangesduetoitseffects.Themetabolism,birth,aging,sicknessanddeaththatareexternalizedarereflectedinthesurvivalandgrowthoflife,andtheinheritanceandmutationthatareinternalizedarereflectedinthereproductionoflife.Inthisway,survivalandreproductionhavebecomethetwomajorattributesoflife,anddeathandmutationhavebecomethetwoinevitablesoflife.Itistheinertiathatmaintainsthebalanceanddeducesthejoyofthestruggleandthedesireforreproduction,whichcausesthepainofbirth,aging,sicknessanddeath,theshort-livedofalienationanddegeneration,whichsupportsthesurvivalandreproductionoflife,andfurtherderiveshumanlife.Naturalattributesatthesurvivallevelandsocialattributesatthepopulationcontinuitylevel.

LifeQuotes

1.Lifeisagemstonethatnaturehascarvedformankind.——Nobel

2.Lifeisadifficultanddangerousvalley,andonlybravepeoplecanpass.——MichelePan

3.Agreatsoulwillstrengthenthoughtsandlife.——Emerson

4.Thereisonlyonekindofheroismintheworld,thatis,peoplewhounderstandandlovelife.——RomainRoland

5.Wecanonlygetlifeifwegiveourlives.——Tagore

6.Alifewithfullcontentisalonglife.Wemustmeasurelifebybehavior,notbytime.——LittleSeneca

7.Ifyoucanmakegooduseofit,yourlifewillbelong.——Seneca

8.Lifeappearssplendidintheshining,andrealityappearsintheordinary.——Burke

9.Theshorteningoflifespanisproportionaltothewastageofthoughts.——Darwin

10.Tocherishlifeistocherishtoday.——Proverbs

11.Whoevercanenricheverymomentwithprofoundcontentisprolonginghislifeinfinitely.——Kurtz

12.Ourlifeisonlyonce,butifwecanuseitcorrectly,onceisenough.——Britishproverb

13.Itisimpossibletohavetwolives,butmanypeoplearenotgoodatspendingitevenonce.——LuKaite

14.Lifeislikeflowingwater.Itisonlybeautifulandmeaningfulwhenhisrapidsandrushingforward.——ZhangWentian

15.Respectforlife,respectforothers,andrespectforone’sownlifearethecompanionsinthelifeprocessandaconditionofmentalhealth.

——Fromm

16.Therearetwotragediesinlife:oneisdesperate,andtheotherisfullofambition.——BernardShaw

17.Peoplewhounderstandthetruemeaningoflifecanprolongshortlives.——Cicero

18.Makeaperson'slimitedlifemoreeffective,whichisequivalenttoprolongingaperson'slife.——LuXun

19.Youshouldfacelifewithasmile,nomatterwhatitis.——Vocic

20.Iftheprimeyeardoesnotreturn,itwillbedifficultforadaytocomeinthemorningagain.——TaoQian

21.Life,aslongasyoumakefulluseofit,itislong-lasting.——Seneca

22.Beforeweunderstandwhatlifeis,wehaveconsumedhalfofit.——Herbert

23.Lifedoesnotsellround-triptickets.Onceyouleave,youcanneverreturn.——RomanRoland

24.Lifeistheexistenceofproteinbodies.——Engels

25.Themostpreciousthingabouthumanbeingsislife.Everyonelivesonlyonce.Aperson’slifeshouldbespentlikethis:reminiscingaboutthepast,hewillnotregretforwastinghisyears,norwillhebeashamedofbeingvileandvulgar;whenheisdying,hecansay:"MywholelifeandallmyenergyhavebeendedicatedtoThemostmagnificentcauseintheworld-fightingfortheliberationofallmankind."-Ostrovsky"HowisSteelMade"

ThechapterthatpraiseslifeincludesWangGuozhen's"LoveLife"",theFrenchthinkerMontaigne's"LoveofLife",andtheAmericanJackLondon'sshortstory"LoveofLife".

WangGuozhenin"LoveLife"

Idon’tthinkaboutwhetheritwillsucceed

SinceIhavechosenfar-reachingconvenience,Icanonlytakecareofthewindandrain.

Idon’tIwonderifIcanwinlove

SinceIaminlovewithroses

Ibravelyconfessmysincerity

Idon’tthinkaboutwhethertherewillbecoldwindandrainbehindme

Sincethegoalisthehorizon

Theworldcanonlybeleftbehind

Idon’tthinkaboutwhetherthefutureisflatormuddy

JustIloveeverythinginlife,asexpected

26.LifeiswhatIwant,righteousness,andwhatIwant.Youcan’thaveboth.Thosewhogiveuptheirlivesandtakerighteousness.LifeiswhatIwant,andwhatIwantismorethanlife,soIdon’twanttogo.DeathisalsowhatIhate,andtheevilisworsethanthedead,soIcannotavoidit.Ifitmakespeoplewantnothingmorethanlife,thenwhynotuseitforthosewhocanlive.Tomakepeopledomoreevilthanthedead,sowhatcanyoudoifyoucanavoidthepatient!Byreason,thereisnoneedtobeborn;becauseofthis,troublecanbeavoidedandthereisnoaction.Sowhatyouwantisworsethantheliving,andwhatyouwantisworsethanthedead.Thosewhoarenottheonlywisehavetheheart,andeveryonehasit.Thewisecannotlosetheirears.--Mencius,ancientChinesethinker