From Buzz to Burst—Critical Remarks on the Term ‘Life’ and Its Ethical Implications in Synthetic Biology

Abstract

In this paper, we examine the use of the term 'life' in the debates within and about synthetic biology. We review different positions within these debates, focusing on the historical background, the constructive epistemology of laboratory research and the pros and cons of metaphorical speech. We argue that 'life' is used as buzzword, as folk concept, and as theoretical concept in inhomogeneous ways. Extending beyond the review of the significant literature, we also argue that 'life' can be understood as a Burstword in two concrete senses. Firstly, terms such as life easily turn into fuzzy, foggy and buzzy clouds of nonsense, if their use is not appropriately reflected. In these cases, the semantic orientation is detonated. This is the Burstword I characteristic of the concept of 'life' that we reveal for its unclear terminological use. Secondly, and in contrast to Burstword I, we show that the concept of 'life' can be used in a methodologically controlled way. We call this kind of use Burstword II.Here the concept of 'life' fulfils the function of expanding an inadequately narrow disciplinary or conceptual focus in different discursive contexts. In this second sense, 'life' receives an important operational function, for instance as a transdisciplinary research principle. It turns out that the innovative function and paradigm-changing power of metaphorical speech belong here as well. Finally, we illustrate three ethically relevant examples that show how 'life' can be applied as Burstword II in the context of synthetic biology. Keywords Life . Synthetic biology . Metaphors of life . Life as metaphor . Ethics of synthetic biology . Buzzword . Burstword From Review to Reaction: IntroductionAs a subdiscipline of biology (the natural science of life), synthetic biology engages by definition with 'life' and its metaphors. What makes it special and new is its constructive, engineering approach. It can be said that the groundbreaking aim of synthetic biology is, as Ruiz-Mirazo and Moreno put it, 'to learn more about the living by means of re-construction or fabricating it-in contrast to the analytical-descriptive work that has, so far, been the most important way of generation knowledge in biology' ([97], p. 378). It is exactly this combination-the engineering attitude and certain life forms as its objects-that raises a lot of questions and especially engenders ethical criticism. The special ethical relevance of synthetic biology is supposed to be

The view of synthetic biology in the field of ethics: a thematic systematic review

“…In some of the publications included in the analysis, it was emphasized that researchers should use the term life through a very detailed analysis ( Funk et al, 2019 ). In this context, there are concerns about using the concept of life.…”

“…It is emphasized that an arbitrary and inappropriate use of the concept of life can lead to ethical problems. Nevertheless, attention is drawn to the mutability of the concept of life with developments ( Funk et al, 2019 ).…”