This thesis proposes a fundamental shift from descriptive biological definitions to a systematic energetic framework for identifying life. By moving beyond material composition, it establishes three quantifiable physical pillars: Hardware Autonomy (autonomous assembly), Energetic Sovereignty (active maintenance of electrodynamic non-equilibrium), and Structural Potential Resilience (the capacity for latency). A critical distinction is introduced between the agency of assembly and simple resource acquisition, providing a rigorous demarcation line that classifies entities such as viruses and organelles as dependent components rather than autonomous individuals. This framework offers a universal, objective, and material-independent foundation for the next era of inquiry into the nature of living systems.
Kai Benjamin Lietge (Sun,) studied this question.