Have you ever wondered what life means? What does it mean to be a living organism?
Life means organisms that have a condition(s) that differentiates them from inorganic matter. This condition includes the ability to grow, reproduce, do a functional activity, and constantly change before death.
A cell, the smallest part of an organism that contains a protein. There are chemical reactions happening inside a cell, which ignite other chemical reactions, and so on. These reactions create a protein, which we call RNA or DNA. A cell, however, cannot feel or experience anything. Thus, could a cell be considered alive?
Based on the abovementioned definition, a cell is a living organism, since it has the ability to do all of the conditions. However, a cell is operated by a dead matter that acts according to the law of the universe. Bacteria and viruses could be considered as a living organism, considering that these organisms are able to do the abovementioned function. But these organisms are built up by a bunch of cells. Thus, is it alive? According to John Locke, the data inside an organism is the one that makes that organism alive. In an organism, this data is RNA or DNA.
What about malware?
Malware is a program or code that infects computers, computer systems, mobile devices, networks, and other electronic devices. Malware does not physically damage the computer. However, malware is able to delete, encrypt, or steal your data.
Let’s see how their “life” is. First, they have the ability to reproduce by duplicating themselves into a program. Second, they have the ability to do a functional activity through spreading and adopting to their affected environment. Furthermore, they contain data in the form of codes. However, they do not have the ability to grow. We cannot identify malware as same as organic matter, as there is no single identifiable “cell” or “code” that could grow.
Does this mean they are alive? Can we treat computer viruses as same as other organic organisms?
The answer depends on your definition of life.
What is life to you?
Bibliography
Lexico. (2019). Life. Retrieved October 3, 2019, from Lexico: https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/life
Nimbalkar, N. (2011, Jan-Dec). John Locke on Personal Identity. Retrieved October 4, 2019, from US National Library of Medicine: National Institute of Health: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3115296/
Urban, T. (2014, December 12). What Makes You You? Retrieved October 4, 2019, from Wait But Why: https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/12/what-makes-you-you.html?doing_wp_cron=1418415874.1286160945892333984375?doing_wp_cron=1418415874.1286160945892333984375
