>What's all this about `comparative biology'? I keep hearing people
>(even John Maynard Smith, who should no better) echoing this claim
>that all of biology is based on `a sample size of one' --- i.e. life
>on earth. It is claimed that in order to study the properties of life
>itself, rather than just that of life on earth, we can
> a) try and find some other interplanetary life (difficult)
> b) implement `life' on a computer system with, e.g. `Tierra'
>
For arguements on the philosophical foundations of artificial
life and suggestions for a broader classification schema, see...
Artificial Life: The Coming Evolution. J.D.Farmer A.d'A.Belin.
Cambridge University Press. Date?
Computer Viruses- A Form of Artificial Life? E.H.Spafford.
SFI Studies in the Sciences of Complexity. 1991.
Artificial Life. C.G.Langton. SFI Studies.... 1988.
Learning from Functionalism- Prospects for Strong Artificial
Life. E. Sober. SFI Studies... 1991.
Emergence and Artificial Life. P. Cariani. SFI Studies... 1991.
Cheers!
- Rogene