[MD] Levels in electronic computers

[Krimel]

[Ian]
Can't agree with "brittle" ... they are real in a pragmatic sense.
That is useful if defined discretely, and that discrete definition may
move with a different basis for defining it. (Hence the current
discussion in this thread about what makes the biological level.)

[Krimel]
I'll stick with brittle in the sense that they break down when pressed. They
are not discrete and attempts to make them so are strained at best.

With respect to the notion that biology plays any role inside the computer;
that just doesn't fly. Biology depends, arises from, exists as a result of
organic (carbon) chemistry. If we ever elect to extend the definition of
"life" to include anything outside of carbon based complexity that might be
another thing but using life and biology in this context at this point is
meaningless.