Definition
Origin-of-life naturalism seeks physical and chemical pathways from nonliving matter to life, without inserting cosmic purpose into the process.
Why It Matters
Naturalism about life’s origin is the final “Demystification” of biology. By viewing life as a “process of organization” rather than a “miracle,” it opens the door to Synthetic Biology and Astrobiology. It suggests that life is a predictable consequence of thermodynamics—and thus, that we might find it (or build it) anywhere in the universe where energy flows. It moves life from the realm of “Mystery” to the realm of “Engineering,” making the creation of new life forms a matter of knowledge rather than magic.
Core Concepts
- Abiogenesis is difficult but scientifically investigable.
- Life may be understood as a process that channels energy and maintains organization.
- Purpose-like behavior can arise from thermodynamic and evolutionary dynamics.
- A natural origin does not make life trivial.