The form of life. I: It is possible but not necessary (Q1184819)

The author considers the form of life (in the context of autonomous systems) with the aim to give its formal description. This problem is discussed in the domain of philosophy, the main attention being paid to the concept of ``function''. It is shown that the form of life in a formal description is possible but not necessary, the phrase ``not necessary'' referring to the outside of the formal description. The reference to the outside of a formal system is discussed in the context of time-space complementarity and it is strongly related to the origin of irreversible time. The relationship between virtual forward-time and backward-time dynamics is also reformulated.