Conclusion: On the Riddle of Life

This chapter synthesizes the results from previous chapters and presents the final conclusion regarding the riddle of life. As consistently argued in this book, this conclusion arises from a critical examination of science and its history, focusing on vitalism, specifically through a historico-logical study of vitalism. Moreover, due to the open character of the history of science, it is evident that the solution proposed to the riddle of life cannot be absolute or definitive. Furthermore, it is crucial to emphasize that the endorsed solution stems from a historico-logical analysis that clarifies, rather than generates, scientific knowledge, marking a distinct approach from that of scientists. To achieve all these, this chapter first clarifies the two different, yet often conflated, meanings used in discourses on life; then, it addresses a recent debate on the riddle of life; further, this chapter proposes a modified Kantian solution; and finally, it summarizes the book and elaborates on the concept of life, contrasting it with matter and mind.