Definition
Dead Matter
Dead Matter refers to physical substances that are not part of a biological or computational replicator system. It is characterised by its tendency toward maximum entropy and thermodynamic equilibrium.
Characteristics
Unlike living matter, dead matter lacks the capacity for self-repair, reproduction, or information processing. It is subject to the second law of thermodynamics without the internal mechanisms to locally offset its effects.
Observation
The transition from “dead” chemistry to “living” code is the central problem of abiogenesis. Historically, figures like William Thomson believed that dead matter could never become living without the influence of pre-existing life, a view that has been challenged by modern simulations of computronium.