Can "life" be "seen" in isolation of inogranic matter.....separate from MATTER in and of itself.

Question

We all KNOW life exists but what is it? We can describe its properties, or what the MATTER which contains the life force DOES but can we isolate life and "see" it in and of itself.....what is LIFE?

Answer 1

Life is not a thing to be observed, it's a state of action.  By common definitions, it's the state of metabolizing energy, replicating oneself, and adapting to the environment.

It's like asking if 'jump' can be seen separate from matter.  Jump isn't a thing, it's an action.

Answer 2

We can't see life isolated from matter

Answer 3

i'm guessing you're not asking in philosophical terms... what life is, but in biological ones.

the answer is NO.  we are mostly organic matter and not inorganic, although life totally depends on inorganic matter (salts/ions, water, minerals/vitamins, etc).

Can life be described in terms of molecules, reactions, etc.   Then yes.  One can describe life in these terms... the simplest way is by looking at simple organisms.  they are the sum of many complex chemical/biochemical reactions.  we are too.