How Could Rocks Be Alive?
Why would we even dare to think that?
In this modern-day and age, why would we even dare to think that rocks or any other inanimate objects could be living things?. Because there is simply nothing to even debate about it. Right? well, the answer is not as straightforward as we think.
It is easy to dismiss the idea that rocks are alive, but when we try to look closer to the line between being alive and dead starts to fade away.
What does it mean to be alive?
A living organism has certain characteristics that set it apart from a non-living organism. The acceptable major characteristics of a living thing are:
- The ability to move around of its own volition. Every living thing can move, notice I have used the word volition meaning they can move around freely. A chunk of dust being blown away by the wind does not mean it is moving around on its own accord, or is it? Let’s save that debate for later. Plants also do move around, well only upwards and sideways when they grow.
- The consumption of food. At least every living organism needs to consume something for sustenance. If they don’t get any food they will die.
- The ability to grow. The changing from a simple form to a complex form is the ability to grow.
- The ability to procreate its offspring. We see that all living things procreate and multiply, otherwise it will go extinct.
- The ability to breathe. Breathing is a simple thing but it is essential to life, if you hold your breath it is hard to last a minute without breath.
How Could Rocks Be Alive?
Why would we even dare to think that?
In this modern-day and age, why would we even dare to think that rocks or any other inanimate objects could be living things?. Because there is simply nothing to even debate about it. Right? well, the answer is not as straightforward as we think.
It is easy to dismiss the idea that rocks are alive, but when we try to look closer to the line between being alive and dead starts to fade away.
What does it mean to be alive?
A living organism has certain characteristics that set it apart from a non-living organism. The acceptable major characteristics of a living thing are:
- The ability to move around of its own volition. Every living thing can move, notice I have used the word volition meaning they can move around freely. A chunk of dust being blown away by the wind does not mean it is moving around on its own accord, or is it? Let’s save that debate for later. Plants also do move around, well only upwards and sideways when they grow.
- The consumption of food. At least every living organism needs to consume something for sustenance. If they don’t get any food they will die.
- The ability to grow. The changing from a simple form to a complex form is the ability to grow.
- The ability to procreate its offspring. We see that all living things procreate and multiply, otherwise it will go extinct.
- The ability to breathe. Breathing is a simple thing but it is essential to life, if you hold your breath it is hard to last a minute without breath.
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