The 21st century will be the biological century. Developments in biology, biochemistry, and bioinformatics will be as transformative as computers and information technologies were in the 20th century. These changes will recast the question of life and will pose difficult social, political, and ethical challenges. For centuries philosophers and scientists have attempted to define life. How does life begin and where does it end? What is the difference between the living and the non-living? What makes human life distinctive? Recent advances in science and technology have complicated these questions but at the same time have opened new possibilities of communication between philosophy and science. In this course, we will draw on a variety of disciplinary approaches to integrate scientific and philosophical approaches to the question of life. Topics to be considered include: origin of life, evolution, co-evolution and symbiosis, cells and organisms, organization and complex adaptive systems, replication and reproduction, disease and self-preservation, information and bioinformatics, viruses and parasites, molecular, cellular and organism cloning, stem cells, abortion, tissue engineering, gene therapy, artificial life, implants and prostheses. In addition to the philosophical and scientific aspects of these issues, we will examine their social, ethical and political implications. Readings drawn from texts and articles written by scientists and philosophers. Format: discussion/lecture. Evaluation will be based on midterm exam and final paper. No prerequisites. Enrollment limit: 25 (expected: 25). Open to all. Satisfies one semester of the Division II requirement.