Is the Milky Way Alive?

Reproduction IS important. Survival IS important. Adaptation to ones enviroment IS important. These things are important. We look at things from our point of view that we forget that we are but a mote in the universe. It's the only point of view we have, but we are such a small part of the universe.

Interesting fact: many many millions of years from now, if not billions, the nearest spiral galaxy to us, (M31...Andromeda galaxy) will crash into the Milky Way, ripping everything apart. Photos taken by Hubble show a little preview of what is to come.

Everything is energy and energy is life so yes it is alive in a manner of speaking

So then what would constitute life? Self awareness? If that were the case, then plants wouldn't be alive.

Heck most PEOPLE wouldnt be alive according to that critera

Amuk, I'm not debating you but are you saying that even electricity is alive?

Originally posted by TheConservative
Interesting fact: many many millions of years from now, if not billions, the nearest spiral galaxy to us, (M31...Andromeda galaxy) will crash into the Milky Way, ripping everything apart. Photos taken by Hubble show a little preview of what is to come.

do you happen to have a link to these pics, sounds interesting

Reproduction IS important. Survival IS important.
Adaptation to ones enviroment IS important. These
things are important. We look at things from our point
of view that we forget that we are but a mote in the
universe. It's the only point of view we have, but we
are such a small part of the universe. -- intrepid

And your point is......??

/\/ight\/\/ing

Originally posted by dunkleskates

Originally posted by TheConservative
Interesting fact: many many millions of years from now, if not billions, the nearest spiral galaxy to us, (M31...Andromeda galaxy) will crash into the Milky Way, ripping everything apart. Photos taken by Hubble show a little preview of what is to come.

do you happen to have a link to these pics, sounds interesting

I watched a program on the fate of our galaxy on the Discovery, where I learned of this. Here is a link. The story about M31 and the Milky Way is short, and near the bottom.

www.cnn.com...

The universe is vast. We are not the center of it. That was discovered centuries ago. Expand your mind. Envision the possibilities.

In a way .....yes. Life is energy, energy is life. Are not the thoughts in your head right now electrical? It is hard for me to explain, to me its kinda like the force in star wars.......kind of. The energy is in everything from the biggest stars to the smallest atom and everything in between. Life is made of it and sprung from it. Call it God if you wish although I wouldnt because I dont believe its really aware in the way we understand awareness. I know I am not doing a good job of explaining it, but will try again later if you wish.

[Edited on 23-1-2004 by Amuk]

Originally posted by junglejake
Looking more for a definition of what life is. The Milkey Way Galaxy creates order out of chaos. Stars out of clouds of hydrogen. Planets. Moons, and, as we see here on earth, life. So would something that can do this be considered a life form?

*dramatic gasp* i've had an epiphany! what if the milky way is our god? i mean... it cannot be denied we were made by it, because of it. maybe all the god beliefs stemmed from an antient story that the milky way is the true god?

dunno. it sounds crazy even to me. but i find this whole topis interesting. wouldn't it be amusing if it was alive?

Originally posted by effigyrelease

Originally posted by junglejake
Looking more for a definition of what life is. The Milkey Way Galaxy creates order out of chaos. Stars out of clouds of hydrogen. Planets. Moons, and, as we see here on earth, life. So would something that can do this be considered a life form?

*dramatic gasp* i've had an epiphany! what if the milky way is our god? i mean... it cannot be denied we were made by it, because of it. maybe all the god beliefs stemmed from an antient story that the milky way is the true god?

dunno. it sounds crazy even to me.

but i find this whole topis interesting. wouldn't it be amusing if it was alive?

Theoretically, you could say the same thing about the universe, being "God" if you will.

Amuk, I have to agree. Well said. It is intresting isn't it. Would you consider joining us in the debate forum? I would enjoy deating you.

Here's the missing "B."

Originally posted by junglejake
"Looking more for a definition of what life is."


Life is a magazine
Life costs money
If you dont have money
Thats Life

The point is that life is hard to define in a manner
acceptable to most. When that happens, then you
characterize it, and search for equivalent characteristics.
What I was illustrating for intrepid is that if something,
in this case, the Galaxy, does not meet the first
characteristic - the primary - then it is pointless
to search for and compare other characteristics.

/\/ight\/\/ing

i believe it does meet the first characteristic as it produces, or reproduces, other, smaller things, like the earth and sun, which produce, or reproduce, smaller things still which is us and animals and plants and other stuff like that.

[Edited on 23-1-2004 by effigyrelease]

from ER - i believe it does meet the first
characteristic as it produces, or reproduces, other,
smaller things, like the earth and sun, which produce, or
reproduce, smaller things still which is us and animals
and plants and other stuff like that.


Eureka ! It is the mountain which is alive because it
produces landslides and bolders, grass and plants and
animals which leave smelly things to step in. But I will
give you credit for starting out ok. You said "produces"
then changed it to "reproduces". Using those terms
in the biological sense, as is the discussion here, the
first usage was correct, and thus, again, production
is not reproduction. Boulders come off mountains and
make rocks, eventually to be sand. Doesn't mean its alive.


/\/ight\/\/ing

[Edited on 23-1-2004 by nightwing]

It is intresting isn't it. Would you consider joining us in the debate forum? I would enjoy deating you.

I agree this topic is one of the more interresting ones on this board.

I am honored that you would ask me about the debating forum. I am ex-army, ex-biker current martial artist words are a new weapon to me

I am not used to arguing with anyone out of baseball bat reach but what the heck I am game

Originally posted by effigyrelease
i believe it does meet the first characteristic as it produces, or reproduces, other, smaller things, like the earth and sun, which produce, or reproduce, smaller things still which is us and animals and plants and other stuff like that.

[Edited on 23-1-2004 by effigyrelease]

Ok, so the universe, and the many galaxies that comprise it do create other things, the stars, planets, even us. That can be thought of as reproduction, I suppose. So it meets the "first characteristic". But does it meet the others -

1. Reproduction (check)
2. Survival
3. Awareness
4. Motive for actions
5. Adaptation

am I leaving anything out? It's like 2:00 am here, and I'm not thinking clearly. I'll check back later on today.

cheers

[Edited on 1/24/2004 by JuanBond]

JB, I think you missed a strong comment above

from JB : 1. Reproduction (check)

Cannot be checked. All the stars forming, planets
etc is same as boulders rolling off the mountain.
It is pontential seeking lowest common denominator.
2nd Law of Thermodynamics. Nothing has been found
to violate 2nd law. Even Black Holes. The only way
to even get an appearance of a temporary suspension
of 2nd law, is with special boundary conditions on
"Life."

/\/ight\/\/ing