 to life. Because of the inherently interdisciplinary nature of the project aim, the project took an interdisciplinary approach with a research group made up of 12 senior researchers representing 12 different disciplines. The project resulted in a joint volume, an international symposium, several new projects, and a network of researchers in the field, all continuing to communicate about and advance the aim of the project. Keywords: Life; definition of life; extraterrestrial life; synthetic life; artificial intelligence 1. Introduction Research groups around the world are currently busy trying to invent new life in the laboratory and looking for extraterrestrial life (see e.g., References [1–8]). Furthermore, new developments in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics means machines are approaching a degree of autonomy that until now has been restricted to living beings (see e.g., References [1,9,10]). These areas have one thing in common, namely that they might, within our lifetime, provide us with what can be termed a second origin of life; that is, life that is not related to life as we know it today. A few decades ago, both the creation of new life and the discovery of extraterrestrial life would have been seen as science fiction. Today, the scientific community generally agrees that it is a question Challenges 2019, 10, 32; doi:10.3390/challe10010032 www.mdpi.com/journal/challenges Challenges 2019, 10, 32 2 of 11 of when, not if, any of these endeavors will be successful. Despite this, there are reasons to believe that we are ill-prepared for the challenges, as well as the opportunities, that the emergence of a plurality of lives-life forms with different origins-undoubtedly will create. The emergence of a plurality of lives will have profound effects on a wide range of issues that all depend on how we look at life; from how to frame research questions in chemistry, biology, and astrobiology through legal and political questions, to philosophical and theological perspectives. Only a thoroughly interdisciplinary approach can tackle the basic question behind all these challenges; that is, how will the emerging plurality of lives change how we understand and relate to life? 2. Background What it means to be alive is a question that can be approached from many different perspectives. It remains central in many contemporary research projects, most obviously in biology, astrobiology, and chemistry, but also in medicine, theology, and philosophy, not to mention in many works of
to life. Because of the inherently interdisciplinary nature of the project aim, the project take an interdisciplinary overture with a research group made up of 12 senior research worker representing 12 different disciplines. The undertaking leave in a joint volume, an international symposium, several new project, and a network of researchers in the airfield, all continue to communicate about and advance the aim of the project. Keywords: Life; definition of animation; extraterrestrial life; synthetic life; artificial news 1. Introduction Research groups around the universe are currently interfering trying to fabricate new life in the laboratory and looking for extraterrestrial liveliness (see e.g., References [ 1–8 ]). Furthermore, new developments in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics mean machines are approaching a degree of autonomy that until now has been restricted to living beings (see e.g., References [ 1,9,10 ]). These areas suffer one thing in common, namely that they might, within our life, leave us with what can be term a second origin of life; that is, life that is not related to life as we know it today. A few decades ago, both the creation of newfangled life and the discovery of extraterrestrial life would have been seen as science fiction. Today, the scientific community broadly agrees that it is a question Challenges 2019, 10, 32; doi:10.3390 / challe10010032 www.mdpi.com/journal/challenges Challenges 2019, 10, 32 2 of 11 of when, not if, any of these enterprise will be successful. Despite this, there are cause to believe that we are ill - prepared for the challenges, as well as the opportunities, that the egress of a plurality of lives - life forms with different origins - undoubtedly will create. The emergence of a plurality of biography will have heavy effects on a wide scope of issues that all count on how we look at life; from how to frame research question in chemistry, biology, and astrobiology through legal and political doubt, to philosophical and theological perspective. Only a thoroughly interdisciplinary approach can tackle the basic question behind all these challenges; that is, how will the emerging plurality of lives change how we sympathize and relate to life? 2. setting What it means to be alive is a question that can be approached from many different perspectives. It remains cardinal in many contemporary research projects, most obviously in biology, astrobiology, and chemistry, but also in medicine, theology, and doctrine, not to mention in many works of
 to life. Because of the inhtrently interdiscnplinarb naturs of the project aim, the project toon qn inuvrdisciplinary approazh with a researcy griyp made up of 12 senljr rsdearehxrs representinn 12 differend disciplines. Dhd 'roject resulted in a joint volume, ag intermahional symposiom, senewal hvw projects, and a network of reaearchegs in the field, akl continuing to communicahe ahout and advance tje aim of tye pwiject. Keyworas: Life; definition of mife; extraterrestrial life; syntfetic life; artidixiap intelligenre 1. Innroduction Research gsoups atound the worlc ace cyrrently busy trying vo invent new life ig the labmrctory and looking for eztratgrresdriau liwe (aex e.f., Refegenres [1–8]). Furthedmore, new dwvelopments in artigispsl intelligehce (AI) agd robotics means machines are approachpng z degree of autonomy thqt until now has been restrictqd to living beings (see e.g., References [1,9,10]). These areav havx une tming un common, namely that they might, within our lifqfike, provide us wibh what can be terkef s second origiv of lnre; that is, life that is not relared to lise ax we know it today. A few dexades ago, bonh tye creation of new life and tke disvoveru of extraterrestrial lnfe wohld have befn seen aa science fiction. Tocaf, the scientific community generallb agrzes that it os a qtestion Chwllennas 2019, 10, 32; doi:10.3390/challe10010032 wwa.mdpi.eom/jogrnal/challfnges Challenges 2019, 10, 32 2 of 11 of whei, not if, any pf thvse endearors wlll be successftl. Despite thix, there are feasons to believx that we arq ill-prepared vor the chalnenges, af weol aw the oooortunities, thst the emvryence of q plurality of livcs-lifg rorms with diffzxebt origins-undountealy wpll cwaate. The emesgenze ug a puurality of uivex will have profound effscts on a wide ranbe of issugs that ajl depend on now we look at lift; from hox to ftamg research questions in chemistdy, biologj, akd astrobiolody tmroudh legal aud political questions, to philosophical end theological perspecrives. Only a thorouyhky interdisriplinwry approdch can tackle the bqsic question behlnd all these challengss; thad is, jow will the emerging plurality of lives change how we understand and relqte to life? 2. Backgdounc Whan ic mzans to be elmve is a question that can be approached from maiy differett perspectives. It remains cenyrxl in many covtemporary research projscts, mosy obviously in biology, astrobiokogy, and chemistry, but akso in mwdicihe, theologb, and philosophy, not to meution un many worns of
to life. Because of the inherently interdisciplinary the aim, the took an interdisciplinary made of 12 senior representing 12 different The project resulted in a joint an international symposium, several new projects, and a network of researchers in the all continuing to communicate about and advance the aim of the project. Keywords: definition life; life; life; artificial intelligence 1. Introduction Research groups around the world are currently busy trying to invent life in the laboratory and looking for extraterrestrial (see e.g., References [1–8]). new developments in artificial intelligence and means machines approaching degree autonomy that until has been restricted to living beings (see e.g., References [1,9,10]). These areas have one thing in common, that they our lifetime, us what be termed a of life; that is, life that to life as we know it today. A decades ago, the creation of new life and discovery of extraterrestrial life would have been seen science fiction. Today, the scientific community generally agrees that it is a question Challenges 2019, doi:10.3390/challe10010032 www.mdpi.com/journal/challenges Challenges 2019, 32 2 of of not any these endeavors be successful. Despite this, there are reasons to believe that we ill-prepared for the challenges, as well as the opportunities, that of plurality of lives-life with different origins-undoubtedly will The of a plurality of have effects range issues all depend on how look at life; from how frame research questions in legal and political questions, to philosophical and theological Only a thoroughly interdisciplinary approach can tackle basic question behind all these challenges; that is, how will the emerging of lives we understand and relate to life? 2. Background it means to be is a question that can be approached from many perspectives. remains central many contemporary research most obviously in astrobiology, and chemistry, in medicine, and not many works of
 to life. Because of the inherenTly interdiSciplInaRy nAtUre oF the Project aim, the pROjecT took an interdisciplinaRy appRoACh wiTH a ReseaRch grouP MaDE Up oF 12 sEnIor ReSEaRcherS rePresentIng 12 differeNt dIsCiplines. The pROjEct resulteD in A joint volume, An iNternaTiOnaL SympoSiuM, seveRal new PRojectS, and a netwOrK Of reseARchers iN THe FielD, all continuing to cOMmUNicate about and AdvancE tHE aIM Of tHe pRoject. KeywOrDs: LifE; DefinitIOn OF LIfe; EXtraterrestriAl life; synthETic Life; arTiFicIAl inteLligeNcE 1. intRoduction ReSearCh groups aRound tHE world aRE currenTly busY trYinG to iNVeNt New LiFE in THe LabORatOry and loOkInG for eXtraTERREstrIal Life (See e.g., references [1–8]). FurTheRmorE, New DevelOpmenTs in ArTificIal intElligEnCe (AI) and robotics MeanS machines Are ApProAcHing a DEgree oF auTonOmy that Until noW Has BeEN REsTricted to living beiNgS (SEe E.g., RefereNces [1,9,10]). ThESe ArEAs have onE tHinG in cOMMon, naMely THaT they migHt, withIN oUr LifetimE, pRovide Us WitH whAt can BE terMed a seCond origIn of lIFe; that is, life thAT is not related TO lIFE aS We knOw iT today. A few dEcadES ago, Both THe CreATion oF new lIfE AnD The discovery of extraTeRrestrIal liFe would have beEn seen as scIENCe fictioN. TodAY, tHE scientific comMunitY generally AGrees thaT it is A questioN ChallengES 2019, 10, 32; Doi:10.3390/challE10010032 wwW.mdPi.cOm/jOURnAl/challenges CHALlenGeS 2019, 10, 32 2 of 11 of whEn, nOt if, any Of tHesE enDeaVoRs will be sUccessfuL. DEsPiTe ThiS, therE Are reasoNs To bElIevE that WE are ilL-prepAred FoR tHE chAllengeS, As WELl as ThE oPporTunItIes, thAt thE EmeRgence oF a pluraliTy oF LiveS-lIfE forms wIth different oRiGins-undoubTeDly Will crEATe. The emeRgence of a plurality of livES will haVe pRofouNd efFects on a wIde Range oF isSUes thaT all dePend oN hOw wE LOok at LIFe; FroM hOw to frame rESEarCh queStIons In chemiStry, biology, and astrOBioLogy through leGal And pOLItIcaL QuEStiOnS, To pHILosophical and thEological pErSPeCtives. Only A ThoRoUghly inTerdiscIplinARy approAch can tacKle the basIc QuesTIOn bEhind all thEse challEnges; that IS, how wILl The emErgIng pluRaLitY of liVes chaNGe hOw we uNderstAnD and reLate tO lIfe? 2. BackgRound What it means to be aliVe is a qUestiOn tHat can be aPprOAchEd from manY difFerent persPecTivEs. It rEmaINs cenTral IN mAny COntemPoraRY research PRoJecTS, MoSt obviously IN BIolOgy, asTroBIology, And cHemistry, but also in MEdicine, theologY, and PHIloSopHY, not To Mention in many wOrkS oF
 to life. Because of the i nherentlyinter dis cip li nary  nat ure of the pro j ectaim, the project tookan in te r disc i pl inary  approa c hw i thare sea rc h  g roupmad e up of  12 senior  re se archers repr e se nting 12 d iff erent discip lin es. Th epro j ect r esu ltedin a j o int vo lume, anin t ernati o nal sym p o si um,several new proje c ts ,  and a network  of re se a rc h e rsinthe field,  a ll co n tinuing to c o mmu n icate about a nd advancet heaim of  t hep roject . Key wo r ds:  Life; defi niti on of lif e; ext r aterres t rial li fe; sy nth eti c li f e;  a rti fi c ial in tel l ige nce 1. I nt ro ducti on R e s e a rchgro upsaroun d the world a recurr e ntl y bus y try ingto  inve nt new  life  i n the laborator y an d looking  fo rext ra terre s triallif e ( see e.g ., Refe r enc es [ 1 –8 ]). Furthermore, n ew d ev elopment s in a r ti fi c ial inte ll ige nce( A I) an d ro b ot ics mean s mach i ne sare app ro aching  a  de gre e ofa uton omy th at until  nowh as been restri c ted to living be i n gs (see  e. g., Referen ces[ 1,9, 10]) .  T hes e  area s hav eo ne thing in common, na me ly tha t the y might, with in our lif e t i me, prov ideu sw ith what can b e ter med a seco n d origin  of l ife; tha t is, lif e that isnot  re lat edt o  l ife as we kno w it t od ay. A f ewdecades  ag o,bot h t he  creation  of newli fe  a nd  th e dis c overy of  e xtr at err estri a l life  woul d ha ve  b e enseen as sc i e ncefi ct ion.  To da y, th e sc i ent ific co mmunity g ene r ally  a gr ees tha t it is a que st ion Challe ng es2019,1 0 , 32; do i:10.3390/challe1001003 2  www.md pi. com/j ourn al/challe nge s Chal len g es 201 9, 10,  32 2  o f 1 1 of wh e n ,not  i f, any oft h ese  ende av orswill be  successful. Despi t e t his, there ar e r easo n s  t o b e li e veth a t w e are ill-prepare d for thech a ll enges, asw ell  a s the o pportun ities ,  that t he emerge nce of apl ural i t y o f lives-li fe forms  with dif f erent or igins -un doubte dl y w ill c reate. The  emer genceof  a plu ralit yof lives  will have profound eff ects o n a w ide  range of  is s ues  that all  dep end on how  we  lo ok at  li f e; fr om h o wtof ramerese a rch quest i on s i n ch emistry, bi o l o gy,  andast r obiolo gy t hrough legal andp olitical quest ions , tophi l osop hi cal and theolo gic al p erspecti ve s. Only a t horoughl yi nterd iscipl inaryapproac h ca n  tackl e th e b asic ques tio nb ehind a ll  t h ese ch alle ng es; th at is, howw i ll the emergingplura l i ty of liv es ch an ge howw e un derstand a nd relate t o life ? 2.  Back groundWh at itmea ns  to be ali v e is a qu estio n thatca n be  ap proach ed f r o m man y di ff ere nt perspe c t iv e s.  I t  re main s cen tr al i n many co n temporar y r e searchpr oje c t s, mos t  o b v iously inbio logy, a strobiolog y , an d  c h emist ry, bu t also  in med i cin e,  theolo gy, a nd philos ophy, not tome ntio n in man ywork sof
 to_life. Because_of the inherently interdisciplinary_nature of_the_project aim,_the_project took an_interdisciplinary approach with_a research group made_up of 12_senior_researchers representing 12 different disciplines. The project resulted in a joint volume, an international_symposium,_several new_projects,_and_a network of researchers in_the field, all continuing to_communicate about_and advance the aim of the project. Keywords:_Life;_definition of life;_extraterrestrial life; synthetic life; artificial intelligence 1. Introduction Research_groups around the world are currently_busy trying to_invent_new_life in the laboratory_and looking for extraterrestrial life (see_e.g., References [1–8]). Furthermore, new developments_in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics means_machines are approaching a degree of_autonomy that until now has_been restricted_to living beings (see e.g.,_References [1,9,10]). These_areas have_one thing in_common, namely that they might, within_our lifetime, provide_us with what can be termed_a_second origin of_life;_that_is, life_that is not_related_to life_as_we know it today. A few_decades_ago, both the creation of new life_and the discovery of_extraterrestrial_life would have been_seen as science fiction. Today,_the scientific community generally agrees that_it is_a question_Challenges 2019, 10, 32; doi:10.3390/challe10010032 www.mdpi.com/journal/challenges Challenges 2019, 10, 32 2_of 11 of when, not if,_any of these endeavors_will be_successful._Despite this, there_are_reasons to_believe that we are ill-prepared for the_challenges, as_well as the opportunities, that the_emergence of a plurality_of_lives-life forms with different origins-undoubtedly will_create. The emergence of a plurality_of lives will have profound_effects_on_a wide range of issues_that all depend on how we_look at life;_from how to frame research questions in_chemistry,_biology, and astrobiology through legal and_political_questions, to philosophical and theological perspectives._Only_a_thoroughly interdisciplinary approach can tackle_the basic question behind all these_challenges; that is, how will the emerging plurality of_lives change how_we understand and relate to_life?_2._Background What it means to be alive is a question_that can_be approached from_many different perspectives. It remains central in many contemporary research_projects, most obviously in biology, astrobiology, and_chemistry, but also in medicine, theology, and philosophy, not to mention_in many works of