The Definition of Life - Star Trek TNG

While on the planet, the crew observe the use of small machines called Exocomps that Dr. Farallon claims can analyze a problem, replicate the correct tool to repair it, and "learn" this for future situations. During a test, one Exocomp refuses to enter a tunnel; moments later a confined explosion occurs within the tunnel. Data suggests that the unit may have exhibited self-preservation behavior and wishes to examine it further. Data asserts that if he is true, the Exocomps should no longer be used as tools.
Data investigates the unit, it finds that it has repaired not only the malfunction but his false alarm, having sensed it was not in any danger from the test. Data concludes the Exocomps possess self-preservation and are sentient.

[@danielmacnaughton9580]

I love how the Enterprise gang instantly have Data's back in the Exocomp discussion.

[@dalesheen1816]

I love that family/crew moment

[@Zorbo88]

That's a team.

[@dirdib69]

The bond there is unmistakable, yes, but the primary purpose of the Enterprise is to discover and contact new life, so this is in their wheelhouse.

[@Ranatosk]

I feel the “Measure of a Man” court trials reinforces this, if there are other sentient synthetic life forms let them think for themselves rather than remain tools

[@wildshadowstar]

I wonder how much they’d have his back if they hadn’t work with him for as long as they did. I mean, I know their mission is scientific exploration, but imagine them rolling up on Dr. Soong’s lab at the moment he created Data the same way they’re working with this scientist.

[@ArcaneAzmadi]

You know, it just occurred to me, when Dr Crusher told Data that "it is the struggle that is important", that Data paraphrased that when his daughter Lal asked him why they try so hard to become human in "The Offspring". A nice continuity nod that shows he remembered this conversation.

[@tagonistknightspublishing8972]

"The Offspring" occurred in a previous season than the one shown here. Therefore, he's not quoting the doctor from this clip when talking to his daughter. That happened before these events.

[@StandUpForCanada1867]

@@tagonistknightspublishing8972 that's probably why Data understood Crusher immediately when she said "it's the struggle" - since Data used that phrase in the prior episode "The Offspring"

[@TheNoiseySpectator]

@@tagonistknightspublishing8972 ???? What a shame. Otherwise, it would have been a splendid way to demonstrate personal growth on Data's part.

[@leo-unddieAnderen]

Of course he remembered. He is not a moron.

[@philistine3260]

@@leo-unddieAnderen I guess it would more accurate to say "of course he remembered. He is an android, he remembers everything"

[@Paul-A01]

She said she has respect for Dr Soogns work, not for Data. Interesting.

[@oooChickenatorXooo]

A subtle distinction but an important one. This line makes her the villain of the episode. TNG was really, really good for its day... in some ways, it's still not been matched.

[@oooChickenatorXooo]

#watchTheOrville #noSeriously

[@stanlee5465]

And then Data compares her to a Virus! Great comeback!

[@archmagos1436]

@@oooChickenatorXooo I believe she does realize her mistake at the end of the episode

[@jameswatsonatheistgamer]

@@stanlee5465 He burned her there.

[@davidknowles2491]

"That's like me telling you not to use your tricorder!" Well let's be fair, when was the last time you saw one of Dr Crushers tricorders commit suicide by vaporising itself in a reaction chamber?

[@jeffarnold9497]

This is why Data is my favortie character of all time. He cares so much about life no matter what form that life takes he respects it and wants every living being to have a chance to experience life even knowing deep down he will never actually get that chance.

[@leeknights5540]

Ahhh...too humane to be human? (Ripley, 👽)

[@TheNoiseySpectator]

Oh, but Jeff, by doing so, Data _did_ experience what it was like to be human! I hope that Data came to realize that Truth before he died.

[@leo-unddieAnderen]

He IS alive. How do you know that you truly live?? Can you prove this??

[@TheNoiseySpectator]

@@leo-unddieAnderen Yes. 💡 If you ask him if he is alive, he will tell you that he is. But, not everything that is alive can tell you that it is. Plants cannot answer, but they are alive... Or, maybe we are wrong, and they are not alive. Maybe they are like fire; a complex chemical reaction, similar enough that we misperceive them.

[@kellyrayburn4093]

"There's a big difference between you and a virus but you both are alive." That's a classic argument and very salient to this proceeding.

[@eleSDSU]

That is quite arrogant of you, to assert that viruses are alive. Do you have any reason to classify them as life?

[@kellyrayburn4093]

@@eleSDSU Yes. They produce and use energy and replicate themselves. That is life by any definition I have ever seen. In fact, in the 1st season episode "Home Soil" Data states, "Only life can replicate itself."

[@fulviopontarollo2952]

@@kellyrayburn4093 ... but both those things are done by other organisms hijacked by viruses, not by viruses themselves

[@captainbryce1]

@@eleSDSU Whether or not something is "alive" ultimately depends on the criteria by which you can use objective metrics to test for life. Whether or not viruses are alive has been debated in biology for decades. At one point they were considered alive, but then the definition of life has been refined so as to exclude viruses (as they no longer meet the criteria). Today, most biologists no longer consider a virus to be a lifeform, however that could change again 300 years from now once we discover the first "intelligent" virus that seems to be self-aware.

[@junbh2]

@@captainbryce1 Saying viruses aren't alive never had anything whatsoever to do with intelligence (protozoa and tomatoes are alive. The vast vast majority of living things have no intelligence). It's because viruses don't reproduce on their own. That's the entire debate.

[@jherrenor]

Data: What about me? I do not grow. I do not reproduce. Yet I am programmed in multiple techniques.

[@clementlee2121]

I miss Star Trek. They make us think about things we would normally never encounter.

[@throwawayaccount4156]

Clement Lee try “The Orville”. Not a spoof, but a homage to TNG. It had some trouble in the beginning, but by now, they offer proper quality content.

[@jeffarnold9497]

@clement lee well you're in luck. Theres a new show coming out called Star Trek Picard and its going to have alot of characters from TNG and a few from the other shows.

[@VictorythroughUnity59]

@@jeffarnold9497 less than one year later... We learn that this too was nothing but a marketing ploy 😑😞😩 How did we end up with an entire generation of talentless writers, that somehow continue to get Green Lit/rewarded for their unworthy products 🙄🙄🙄

[@TheTattorack]

@@jeffarnold9497 This comment aged like bread.

[@dunmermage]

@@VictorythroughUnity59 By having execs and producers that only cares about money and shoveling content made to appeal to the largest audience possible. I mean, who is more at fault? JJ Abrams and Kurtzman or the people who handled Star Trek over to those hacks?

[@mossy642]

‘You are unique.’ Lorne and B4: ‘I can’t believe you’ve done this.’

[@potsdam28]

I don’t think he knew Lore was still alive.

[@ThibautVDP]

data grows mentally. learns about human behavoiur, adapts to human behaviour, and 'grows' in personality.

[@FirstLast-cf4mi]

Space Aids!

[@neoanimefreak_7606]

Indeed, at times, one could say that Data is more human than anyone else.

[@PR--un4ub]

@Norman Boring!

[@dalleneldredge6923]

Data be like "What transpired between the moment when I was nothing more than an assemblage of parts, and the next moment, when I became alive?' Soogn be like: "IT'S ALIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!"

[@KenshiImmortalWolf]

'that's like me telling you not to use your tricorder" tricorders do not sh ut on their users fingers or fry their sensors just to avoid being used in dangerous situations

[@CharlesUrban]

Later, the Exocomps would cement their claim to self-awareness by forming the Exocomps Local #137 and going on strike to obtain better working conditions and a decent health insurance plan.

[@dsandoval9396]

Shortly after the Exocomps Mafia was created and they became union leaders where they explored the concept of corruption and a so-called protection racquet.

[@MrRurounismc]

EXO COMPS YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO DESTROY CORRUPTION NOT JOIN IT

[@CharlesUrban]

@@MrRurounismc When executive corruption and union corruption smash into each other, sometimes you get something resembling a better life.

[@AdamSmith-kq6ys]

@@dsandoval9396 "Protection racquet" - for when they're playing tennis? ;)

[@r.connor9280]

@@AdamSmith-kq6ys the scheme is pay me X amount or else some "accidents" might happen to your stuff It's one of the classics

[@GarrettRoen]

I watched this episode when I was in 10th grade. Tonight while helping my youngest son with makeup homework I had to play this video for him because we were arguing about fire being alive. 28 years after watching it the first time I knew exactly where to look for the answer :)

[@rufusapplebee1428]

Live Forever and Prosper, Garrett Roen and family.

[@TheNoiseySpectator]

I wonder why Garret's son was studying how to apply makeup in the tenth grade? It seems like one of those things you'd learn in grade school or Junior High, if you were to learn it in school. 🤔

[@arikat9529]

Oh, my heart.😢 Data saying that he was alone in the universe makes me want to hug him so hard!😔

[@MountainFisher]

Remember like they told you when you were little. Bambi's mom is just a cartoon, it's in a land of make believe. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gaS6hIt6dqaCrrc

[@Skulexander]

In Measure of a Man, Maddox said he wouldn't be facing such opposition if Data didn't LOOK human. This episode with the Exocomps clearly disproves that.

[@potsdam28]

@Coolio_Wolfus but like before Picard has his back

[@kadindarklord]

'Doctor, there's a big difference between you and a virus, but they're both alive.' Hmmmmm...

[@Synathidy]

The writers didn't check current science for the futuristic representation of science.

[@voldlifilm]

Yeah, I Hmmmmed at that too.

[@mikeymcmikeface5599]

Current science did not exist 30 years ago.

[@GregorySnipe]

My biology professor, disagreed with consensus and considered viruses to be alive.

[@Zenocius]

@@GregorySnipe Well... They lack the innate ability to divide.

[@michaelfawcett2331]

Galileo said something similar. "All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered. The point is to discover them."

[@MagnusGugilusVugilus]

1990’s Star Trek: what is the meaning of life? 2019 Star Trek: ‘tHiS Is tHe Pow3r Of MaTh, PeOplE! OuR sPaCeShIp RuNs oN ShRoOms!’

[@hannibalburgers477]

Fuck yeah

[@DblOSmith]

"SHEER FUCKING HUBRIS." - STP

[@MagnusGugilusVugilus]

DblOSmith watch your frakking mouth.

[@MagnusGugilusVugilus]

sonoki82 you’re in the wrong show! 😂

[@Doublebarreledsimian]

@@DblOSmith Oh god, I read that quote as Stone Temple Pilots.

[@tazchanday2422]

Data, you will never be alone my friend

[@apotheosis00]

Data says something really similar to Lal, his own offspring. That the struggle itself is important. I always like to imagine he passed this down from this conversation with Beverley.

[@VulcanOnWheels]

I see this is not mentioned in the description, nor in the comments that I see here, so let me state...this scene is from Star Trek: The Next Generation, episode The Quality Of Life.

[@FelixG]

thanks

[@funsizepolitics6107]

Season... 3 ? I'm guessing

[@Myrathosghost]

Fun Size Politics its actually Season 6 Episode 9

[@shaunwochek23]

This isn't the one with Spock and Kirk and Scotty is it?

[@Myrathosghost]

Trainer Shayne thats Star Trek the Original Series

[@adammiller6606]

Beverly Crusher is one fine woman...

[@JL0ndon]

Adam Miller i don’t get how such a beautiful woman would produce such a horribly annoying offspring. Lol

[@adammiller6606]

J.London - That very point has boggled my mind for many years.

[@area85restorations75]

Meh

[@Krystalmyth]

@@JL0ndon Id blame the father but the man was a war hero.

[@Cx10110100]

@@Krystalmyth Well, he isn't there to guide teenager Wesley, so yes his absence is a prob;em

[@existentiallychallenged5068]

I was actually told in a microbiology course in 2015 that life is considered as the ability to produce ATP in a cell, leading to the follow up that viruses are not considered living. There’s definitely everything that Dr Crusher said as well, but I just wanted to contribute something too

[@sliceoflife4220]

Look up germ theory history I was also told that viruses are not alive my I also still believe that viruses are not alive. But AI Like.data Could totally be sentiment or then what That's us playing God Once android starts thinking and questioning itself and wanting to be human that's life it's life created from life

[@TheNoiseySpectator]

This is fascinating and I want to hear more: What is "ATP"? (Besides a home security service).

[@Rob-sf4xy]

​@@TheNoiseySpectator its genome information (outrageous simplification)

[@geoffroi-le-Hook]

​@@TheNoiseySpectatoradenosine triphosphate

[@3jasonwebb]

@@TheNoiseySpectator This new science fascinates me. Tell me again how a sheep's bladder might be employed to prevent earthquakes

[@68Fourty72]

"Pinocchio is broken. Its strings have been cut."

[@ProtusMose]

Bro, that virus line was a mic-dropper.

[@Krystalmyth]

Crusher looked fantastic here.

[@Probablyabox]

"There's a big difference between you and a virus, and both are alive" OH SHIT I THINK THAT WAS A BURN

[@bucketfan4life]

one HELL of a burn. it’s sometimes easy to forget how much of a savage data can be.

[@yw1971]

Strong influence on 'Rick & Morty' episode on the small robots

[@TheZetaKai]

The exocomp that vaporized itself may have been unstable, and perhaps even despairing at an existence of compulsory labor without the ability to communicate its unhappiness with its plight. I know that some people would see suicide as a viable alternative to slavery without the possibility of escape, especially if the yoke of control was inside their own neural network.

[@Nine-Signs]

Yet another TNG episode that blows a moon aized hole in "Picard" with a federation using androids as slave labour

[@gatovillano7009]

This is why in biologgy we talk about having a metabolism being a characteristic of the living.

[@jkm7983]

Isn't metabolism just a chemical reaction to extract energy from raw materials

[@jeffarnold9497]

@@jkm7983 exactly. There are things that do not "live" that can form metabolisms.

[@yw1971]

There's a better definition... Wonder why it still unknown

[@rufusapplebee1428]

inito-genesis to nucleosynthesis to chemosynthesis can also be classified as metabolism.

[@gatovillano7009]

@@rufusapplebee1428 me•tab•o•lism mĭ-tăb′ə-lĭz″əm► n. The chemical processes occurring within a living cell or organism that are necessary for the maintenance of life. In metabolism some substances are broken down to yield energy for vital processes while other substances, necessary for life, are synthesized. n. The processing of a specific substance within a living cell or organism.

[@brad4571]

Ironically, Data is the most human member of the crew.

[@squattingheads]

"what made me alive?" "an emotional ruling"

[@ripple-effect-mlp]

I loved how when Dr. Crusher first took a breath to try to answer his question, Data turned his head abruptly towards her to pay attention. It was like his way of saying, "Please proceed; I am listening."

[@macklee6837]

Brilliant and thought-provoking

[@harvestcanada]

Data really hasn't learnt much from humanity, until learned for himself.

[@sugarking12]

the fire argument has always been compelling to me. I find the dismissal that fire is a chemical reaction to be unsatisfactory. To me, life is nothing more than a glorified, highly complex biochemical reaction.

[@HJCZB1999]

Me as a kid: Star Trek has no lightsabers? Booooring! Me Now: Wow Data's analysis was very insightful, it reminds me of the Kyber Crystals in lightsabers which are also living things, yet force users don't care for their well being, how cruel.

[@dalleneldredge6923]

Data be like: "Me thinks this tool is sentient!" Everyone: "Be free, screwdriver!!!!!"

[@tomf3150]

Now this explain why the 10 socket always disappears. This one isn't a team player.

[@motherofpearlmusic2015]

This is such an excellent and amazing episode! That's why I have come to love TNG and Data.

[@danwat1234]

The BEST episode ever! Robots, are they alive or not? Friggin awesome episode. That and the episode; 'the measure of a man'

[@jeffarnold9497]

The Measure Of A Man is an amazing episode with some of the best acting and writing ever.

[@normanred9212]

one of the worst episodes actually, it diminishes actual Life from Nature that is so far beyond complex that any machine seems retarded in comparison.

[@falstoffe]

Life: Local reversal of entropy.

[@darkstepik]

it is hypotheticaly possible to havea local reversal of entropy without it having charakteristics of being alive so this statement ist wrong

[@HaydenPlaysGames]

2:05 I never noticed before that when asked the same question by Lahl some years later, data answers as doctor crusher did. "Why do try to be like them when it only serves to remind you that you are incomplete?" and he responds. "It does not matter that we may never reach our ultimate goal, We must strive to be more than we are Lahl, it is the struggle itself, that is most important."

[@johnhopkins6260]

"...there's a big difference between you and a virus..."; whadda hoot...cracks me up..

[@ralphrestubog5519]

Gates McFadden was and still is smokin' hot.

[@trevorlane]

I wonder if this is the direction Picard is going, maybe bring in Exocomps, Lore, and Nanites to the show.

[@ursomrano542]

I don’t really understand the creator of the exocomps objection to the thought that they might have created life. I personally would be overjoyed that I just stumbled onto something that almost everyone in the universe hasn’t figured out.

[@normanred9212]

Because now you have to give a blowjob to a machine so it does what it's suppose to do. i honestly doubt you would the same if your life's work now says "no", no you would be pissed off just like she is.

[@genostellar]

The easy answer is that Data and the Exocomps are not alive, but have intelligence. Dr. Crusher gave an adequate definition of life, and life is a chemical reaction just like fire, and sure it's sometimes hard to tell what is and is not life, but Data expresses none of the characteristics of a living thing. He does, however, express the characteristics of sentience. Life is not described as the ability to think, make choices and be aware of things.

[@tomdumb6937]

Here is the best definition of life (taken from one of the trek novels!) Life is,... A persistant, localized reversal of entropy.

[@latimer442]

You could say the same thing about crystals....Data starts having flashbacks

[@alexweirdyoung]

Movement, Respiration, Sensitivity, Growth, Reproduction, Excreation, Nutrition.

[@petemk73]

My absolute favouriite episode, at least the one I remember the most

[@bryanalexander7571]

I know she comes across as the villain of the piece but I get where Farallon is coming from. She created a somewhat glitchy tool to help with a failing project and somebody shows up while she is trying to save her project and announces that she has accidentally created a life-form. That would probably seem absurd, especially when I seriously doubt that these are the first artificial intelligences that she has programmed.

[@kentrichter3139]

Ultimately, Data says we must not use the exocomps, not just because they're alive, but because they are conscious beings. We have no moral problem (or at least less of one) using living things for our human benefit. Raising animals (even "humanely") to eat is a clear example, but we can include wagon-pulling horses and seeing-eye dogs. So the problem for Data has to be not just that the exocomps are alive, but that they are conscious entities with a will of their own. I wish they had been clearer on that distinction.

[@IrenMasot]

1:18 [Beverly's chair squeaks loudly]

[@nighthawk0077]

Who the hell are you to ask Data about a basis for a conclusion. Of course he has a bloody basis!

[@larry-three8225]

I remember thus episode, I just seen it on BBCA 20 minutes ago. I wanted one of the little floating droids.

[@IsiahTomas]

The Lifeination of Def. I couldn't resist.

[@asdf9C]

I'm surprised data doesn't crack more skulls irl.

[@normanred9212]

Ah TNG, some episodes they want to send you back to hunter gatherer era because your toaster might pretend to have feelings

[@ronwade2206]

I Loved this the first time it was on! Julie and I watched every one, sure miss her but, the reruns we're good too. And now, we can watch these at will; apologies to Will Wheaton

[@lodevijk]

This is the kind of dilemma a space scifi show is supposed to have.

[@retrochristmas7329]

"Doctor where do babies come from" :o

[@splintmeow4723]

You would have thought she would be excited at the prospect that exocomps have evolved.

[@BrowncoatFairy]

just watched this episode last night, and this scene struck me as very stupidly written. The question Data is asking, the hypothesis he wishes to test for, is the *definition* of life, not the *meaning* of life. Crusher starts off with a definition of "life" the writer clearly lifted from a 7th grade biology textbook, but then Data and Crusher both go wildly off topic dancing around issues like sentience and purpose, as if these weren't both a) well understood by both of these characters, b) explored more intelligently in prior episodes by these same people, and c) completely beside the point, since they have nothing to do with Data's hypothesis. In fact the whole episode seems to conflate the idea of being "alive" with the concept of "sentience" (or intelligence). I don't think Picard would particularly care that some artificial construct technically met the basic criteria for "life". I could write a computer program with a couple dozen lines of code that met that criteria. It would be worthless and uninteresting, but it'd be "alive" by that definition. Meeting that criteria isn't itself interesting. Heck, they murder trillions of microscopic organisms that are inarguably alive even by narrow organic biological definitions all day long, merely by breathing or bathing or walking around. The doctor casually exterminates living viruses in the crew on an hourly basis. They don't care about "life", per se. What Picard (and the Federation) care about is *sentience* (or intelligence, depending on your definitions). It bothered me that the episode was so confused about these concepts.

[@michaelserebreny454]

Fire doesn't adapt otherwise by now it wouldn't be vulnerable to water.

[@thenewlc]

The exocomp that disabled itself was like a soldier in a trench shooting himself in the foot 🤣

[@DayneTreader]

Dr. Maddox answered the question better than Dr. Crusher did in my opinion

[@TheNoiseySpectator]

Are you sure? Doctor Maddox was not talking about just straightforward being alive? Sure, if you can tell your biologist that you are alive, you get let into the club on the "René Descartes gold pass". But, the great majority of kingdoms of Life Forms that have ever existed on Earth would not fit his three criteria. The ability to "think" and to have consciousness is by far an arbitrary rarity, limited to the animal kingdom. Think about mushrooms, and dandelions. They are not intelligent, nor self aware, nor do they have consciousness. But, they are alive. I'm fact, Spot meets all three. Why is Spot not considered a sentient being. 🤔😺

[@ReefMimic]

Oh Data you were never alone

[@n3v3rg01ngback]

The definition is: Baby don’t hurt me.

[@RadimentriX]

4:23 Mr. Tricorder disagrees

[@shaunwochek23]

Lmao Professor X and Cyclops both made an appearance in Star Trek

[@spyrofan9681]

I would contest that Data does grow (His hair if nothing else) as he matures intellectually, this also fulfills the consuming fuel aspect as well....If you get a little bit more abstract.

[@Lover-of-Creative-Priorities]

I watched this recently on Netflix after that little meeting in the senior staff meeting room over Data's theory about those little toys having lives of their own and the captain decided to settle this with a test run and it failed that test I had a gut feeling that hovering little toy realised it was a test and seen right throw it

[@PeachyPancakes]

It's funny how most people don't realize evil clones are everywhere....

[@joshuaizly5502]

The attempt of demonstration by the absurd that she gives actually is solidifying his point. That exocomp might have committed suicide and it might have something to do with his slave-like status, at least they can't feel pain.(I hope)

[@bradwatkins7564]

And this is why Janeway is guilty of murdering Tuvix.

[@life-kk9xu]

Dude I think crystals are alive because I have a broad definition of life

[@jmichaelramirez2510]

Troi saying something is a fact when it's nothing but a hypothesis.

[@VCYT]

Beverly is so pretty.

[@retromillenium]

Fantastic writing. Nuff said!

[@deltoid77-nick]

I guess using that virus comparison he prescribes to my belief of life where "it's a chemical process that has only one purpose and that is Recursion of information. To copy itself at infinim and to modify itself when necessary to persist it's information and that creates a generation"

[@jebclang9403]

0:51 Please continue with the de-cloaking Dr.Crusher, i am taking notes. We should REALLY talk about our offspring and how they will have fire-colored hair.

[@JasonBoyce]

Data grows so much over the course of his life. Plus he reproduces

[@tvu86]

Dr. Crusher: Would bang 10/10

[@Xerock]

"the fact that it could be alive"... I think she means the possibility, unless she read ahead in the script.

[@wildshadowstar]

I love this episode.

[@Jean-paulParadis-qs9wh]

The next generation is my fave sci-fi series of all time it is like SOUL TV for me❤❤😊😊jpp

[@harageilucid4352]

This show was so fucking good. TV just doesn't get into ideas like this anymore.

[@huth1701]

This is what Star Trek is all about. Exploration of the human condition. This shows deals with topics such as suicide, slavery, terrorism, ethics, the meaning of life. That is the core of Star trek. Tell a good story and give people something to think about.

[@callumwearne7870]

There is a corridor in this scene behind beverlys office which you don't usually see in most other episodes. I wonder if its a secret corridor

[@sparshjohri1109]

They keep conflating life and consciousness. Differentiating the two would help the discussion a great deal

[@NerdyAngel1989]

Not really what Data is basically saying is these things are showing signs of being g a true AI something he himself is and as a true AI they would be classified as a life form.

[@markk7082]

TNG was so much more based than I ever realized

[@VCYT]

Beverly is so feminine + scientific at the same time.

[@mrgoober6320]

Back when ST was about having philosophical conversations.

[@Padeir0]

NASA's definition of life: “Life is a self-sustaining chemical system capable of Darwinian evolution” Data is self-sustaining, maybe even more than humans, but not a chemical system. He talks about fluids running in his body in some episode but i don't think it applies. He's capable of self-improving, probably capable to adapt much faster than a system in Darwinian evolution, but it's not Darwinian per se. Data might not fit the definition of Life, because life is more like a system, emerging set of rules from the small building blocks of the universe. But he is certainly alive and self-aware, he's a being.

[@eatmyfaceoff1]

Doctor there's a big difference between you and a virus, but both are alive"... LOL savage data, shots fired

[@rogerscottcathey]

A great episode. One of the best.

[@Sage2000]

Star Trek chefs kiss