To a mathematical definition of 'life'

Abstract

'Life' and its 'evolution' are fundamental concepts that have not yet been formulated in precise mathematical terms, although some efforts in this direction have been made. We suggest a possible point of departure for a mathematical definition of 'life'. This definition is based on the computer and is closely related to recent analyses of 'inductive inference' and 'randomness'. A living being is a unity; It is simpler to view a living organism as a whole than as the sum of its parts. If we want to compute a complete description of a region of space-time that is a living being, the program will be smaller in size if the calculation is done all together, than if it is done by independently calculating descriptions of parts of the region and then putting them together.