人造生命的出场路径探析——存在论的视角

The Appearance Path of Artificial Life: From the Perspective of Ontology

从存在论视角看,作为一种特殊在者的到场,人造生命则存在以特定方式呈现的结果。人造生命得以出场的根源蕴含在对生命的特定理解、科学的认知取向和技术的操作特征之中。现代生命观将生命"物化"为生命体,生命科学按照人的理解对生命进行"图像",生物技术则根据人的要求"订造"生命的产出。经过生命观的"物化"、生命科学的"图像"和生物技术的"订造",人造生命得以圆满出场。但"物化"消解了生命存在的丰富内涵,"图像"仅是对生命规律的片面认知,"订造"则是对生命产出的强制性规定。结果是"如其所能的生命"以"如吾所识的生命"形态呈现,其中蕴含着诸多的不确定性风险。

As a product of science and technology,artificial life is the result of enhancing of life science and biotechnology.But as a special kind of existent,artificial life is the result of appearing of existence in a certain way.The impetus of appearance of artificial life exists in the specific understanding of life,the cognitive orientation of life science and the characteristics of biological technology.Life is regarded as organism in the modern view of life.The cognitive orientation of modern life science is that recognize life according to mankind’s understanding.The characteristics of modern biological technology is to operate life according to human needs.Artificial life has been successfully brought out through being materialized in the modern view of life,imaging by modern life science and making by modern biotechnology.But the meaning is losing in the modern view of life.The imaging is only a presentation but not a fact of life.The making is a compulsory form of life which cannot eliminate the possibility of diversity appearance of life.Artificial life is the life as it could be but not the life as we know it.Therefore,it is necessary to take a cautious attitude towards artificial life.There is a need for technical specifications and practice supervision to reduce risk.