Natural and Artificial Life

This thesis is about similarities and differences between natural and artificial life. It examines how a combination of insight from the disciplines of computer science and philosophy can be used to address this issue. By applying the principles of evolution to artificial life, the paper shows the perspectives of this life form and its implications for mankind. Human history contains many attempts at constructing artificial creatures; however, this dream only became reality with the advent of digital computers. Although artificial life is built on different principles than natural life, is better to view both as complementary rather than as opposites. It is possible to speculate on symbiosis between artificial and natural elements and on the formation of hybrid life forms that combine features from both worlds. Artificial life is not dependent on biological cycles and its evolution can proceed much faster. It has the potential to overcome the necessity of death, which is characteristic of all biological entities. If we compare the intelligence of machines to that of natural organisms, it is possible to identify the differences between them. Machine intelligence has the potential to create artificial collective intelligence through computer networks that exceed the level of separate entities. Simple forms of artificial life, identifiable at present, will evolve in coming decades and raise a number of unsolved questions (i.e. ethical concerns). These issues are and will remain current