That’s correct. Chain letters—and the rest of human culture—is literally alive.
Here is Dawkins (1976) on the topic:
As my colleague N.K. Humphrey neatly summed up an earlier draft of this chapter: “memes should be regarded as living structures, not just metaphorically but technically”.
Mules are alive. Mule cells reproduce and persist via a copying process. Being sterile does not mean you are not alive, just that you are near the end of the line. Chain letters are alive too - it is unfortunate that few people realise that.
IMO, a new word is not needed: we don’t need multiple terms for practically the same basic thing.
FWIW, my preferred version is that life is that which persists via copying.
Like chain letters?
That’s correct. Chain letters—and the rest of human culture—is literally alive.
Here is Dawkins (1976) on the topic:
Seems a bit perverse to use a definition that says a chain letter is alive, but a mule isn’t. Why not just make up a new term?
Mules are alive. Mule cells reproduce and persist via a copying process. Being sterile does not mean you are not alive, just that you are near the end of the line. Chain letters are alive too - it is unfortunate that few people realise that.
IMO, a new word is not needed: we don’t need multiple terms for practically the same basic thing.