--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This was not an academic matter. Biology…" description: "\"“This was not an academic matter. Biology, as George Wald had said, was a unique science because it could not define its subject matter. Nobody had a d..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7a/anonymous-1_biology_this-was-not-an-academic-matter-biology_154586.jpg" --- # This was not an academic matter. Biology, as George Wald… ![“This was not an academic matter. Biology, as George Wald had said, was a unique science because it could not define its subject matter. Nobody had a definition for life. Nobody knew what it was, really. The old definitions-- an organism that showed ingestion, excretion, metabolism, reproduction…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7a/anonymous-1_biology_this-was-not-an-academic-matter-biology_154586.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7a/anonymous-1_biology_this-was-not-an-academic-matter-biology_154586.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7a/anonymous-1_biology_this-was-not-an-academic-matter-biology_154586.jpg) > ““This was not an academic matter. Biology, as George Wald had said, was a unique science because it could not define its subject matter. Nobody had a definition for life. Nobody knew what it was, really. The old definitions-- an organism that showed ingestion, excretion, metabolism, reproduction, and so on-- were worthless. One could always find exceptions.   The group had finally concluded that energy conversion was the hallmark of life. All living organisms in some way took in energy-- as food, or sunlight-- and converted it to another form of energy, and put it to use. (Viruses were the exception to this rule, but the group was prepared to define viruses as nonliving.)   For the next meeting, Leavitt was asked to prepare a rebuttal to the definition. He pondered it for a week, and returned with three objects: a swatch of black cloth, a watch, and a piece of granite. He set them down before the group and said, "Gentleman, I give you three living things."   He then challenged the team to prove that they were not living. He placed the black cloth in the sunlight; it became warm. This, he announced, was an example of energy conversion-radiant energy to heat.   It was objected that this was merely passive energy absorption, not conversion. It was also objected that the conversion, if it could be called that, was not purposeful. It served no function.   "How do you know it is not purposeful?" Leavitt had demanded.   They then turned to the watch. Leavitt pointed to the radium dial, which glowed in the dark. Decay was taking place, and light was being produced.   The men argued that this was merely release of potential energy held in unstable electron levels. But there was growing confusion; Leavitt was making his point.   Finally, they came to the granite. "This is alive," Leavitt said. "It is living, breathing, walking, and talking. Only we cannot see it, because it is happening too slowly. Rock has a lifespan of three billion years. We have a lifespan of sixty or seventy years. We cannot see what is happening to this rock for the same reason that we cannot make out the tune on a record being played at the rate of one revolution every century. And the rock, for its part, is not even aware of our existence because we are alive for only a brief instant of its lifespan. To it, we are like flashes in the dark."   He held up his watch.   His point was clear enough, and they revised their thinking in one important respect. They conceded that it was possible that they might not be able to analyze certain life forms. It was possible that they might not be able to make the slightest headway, the least beginning, in such an analysis. ==========”” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The anecdote challenges traditional definitions of life by showing that energy conversion, even in inanimate objects, can be seen as a hallmark of living processes. **In simple terms:** Energy conversion can blur lines between living and nonliving. Key Takeaway Question rigid definitions of life. Themes science philosophy definition energy life Mood curious thoughtful skeptical Type philosophical scientific When to use this quote - education - research - public discourse - science communication Key Concepts biology philosophical inquiry conceptual analysis Questions to Reflect On - What criteria truly define life? - How does this affect our view of viruses? A Different Perspective Definitions may be too narrow for complex phenomena. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Biology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biology/) [Biology George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biology-george-1712389/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Definition Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/definition-life-274193/) [George w](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/george-w/) [Leavitt Asked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leavitt-asked-1712388/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Living things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-things/) [Matter Biology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter-biology-1712387/) [Organism Showed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organism-showed-1712386/) [Potential energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/potential-energy/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) ## Related quotes > [Our lives are about development, mutation and the possibility of change; that is almost a definition of what life is: change... If you disable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/our-lives-are-about-development-mutation-and-the-possibility-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Accept no ones definition of your life, but define yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/accept-no-ones-definition-of-your-life-but-define-yourself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“for the core of the body is involved. This built-in support does not depend on muscular effort because it is derived from the relationships…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-the-core-of-the-body-is-involved-this-built-in-support-does-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/accept-no-one-s-definition-of-your-life-define-yourself/) [Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/) > [Don't ask for the definition of life. You define it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-diaz/don-t-ask-for-the-definition-of-life-you-define-it/) [Julia Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-diaz/) > [“Accept no one’s definition of your life. Define yourself.” - Unknown”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-dominguez/accept-no-one-s-definition-of-your-life-define-yourself-unknown/) [Ella Dominguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-dominguez/) > [Maybe that was the definition of life everlasting: the belief that the next generation would carry your work forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-patchett/maybe-that-was-the-definition-of-life-everlasting-the-belief-that-the/) [Ann Patchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-patchett/) > [It seems one must leave home to learn the definition of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/it-seems-one-must-leave-home-to-learn-the-definition-of-life/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [We can come up with a working definition of life, which is what we did for the Viking mission to Mars. We said we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-ponnamperuma/we-can-come-up-with-a-working-definition-of-life-which-is-what-we-did/) [Cyril Ponnamperuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-ponnamperuma/) > [The definition of your life should only be defined by you and no one else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-sharp/the-definition-of-your-life-should-only-be-defined-by-you-and-no-one/) [David S Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-sharp/) > [I do know without fear of contradiction what the definition of life is and it is 12 words long. 'Life is defined by how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-olbermann/i-do-know-without-fear-of-contradiction-what-the-definition-of-life/) [Keith Olbermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-olbermann/) > [“Never allow anybody substitute the unknown definition of your life with their known definition of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabelo-mabona/never-allow-anybody-substitute-the-unknown-definition-of-your-life/) [Kabelo Mabona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabelo-mabona/) > [Searching an exact definition of life is as hard as finding an exact life !!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/searching-an-exact-definition-of-life-is-as-hard-as-finding-an-exact/) [Senoraroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senoraroy/) > [Never Accept the definition of LIFE from Others. It is Your life, So define it by Yourself, The way You love, The way You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/never-accept-the-definition-of-life-from-others-it-is-your-life-so/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [The true definition of life will always remain the same It Goes On roll with it and make the best of every single moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaze-olamiday/the-true-definition-of-life-will-always-remain-the-same-it-goes-on/) [Blaze Olamiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaze-olamiday/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Biology quotes > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [“Genetics is a science full of gods, Mr. Sanchez.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valeria-luiselli/genetics-is-a-science-full-of-gods-mr-sanchez/) [Valeria Luiselli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valeria-luiselli/) > [We became Homo sapiens not that long ago, from the scientific perspective, and we've retained a lot of our beast nature. We've done all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/we-became-homo-sapiens-not-that-long-ago-from-the-scientific/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [Evolution happens in jumps, very rapidly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-ferguson/evolution-happens-in-jumps-very-rapidly/) [Marilyn Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-ferguson/) > [“Toshiaki learned that all living organisms were governed by their DNA. He was impressed by perfection of this system.Why did existence have the ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hideaki-sena/toshiaki-learned-that-all-living-organisms-were-governed-by-their-dna/) [Hideaki Sena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hideaki-sena/) > [I'm all about evolution. I'm the first person to judge myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-weeknd/i-m-all-about-evolution-i-m-the-first-person-to-judge-myself/) [The Weeknd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-weeknd/) > [We are somehow the children of the planet, we are somehow its finest hour; we bind time, we bind the past, we anticipate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-somehow-the-children-of-the-planet-we-are-somehow-its-finest/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [I think the ethics and morals of genetic engineering are very complicated. It intrigues me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-spottiswoode/i-think-the-ethics-and-morals-of-genetic-engineering-are-very/) [Roger Spottiswoode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-spottiswoode/) > [Biochemists and biologists who adhere blindly to the Darwinism theory search for results that will be in agreement with their theories and consequently orient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-paul-grasse/biochemists-and-biologists-who-adhere-blindly-to-the-darwinism-theory/) [Pierre-Paul Grasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-paul-grasse/) > [“A note of caution: epigenetics is also on the verge of transforming into a dangerous idea. Epigenetic modifications of genes can potentially superpose historical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siddhartha-mukherjee/a-note-of-caution-epigenetics-is-also-on-the-verge-of-transforming/) [Siddhartha Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siddhartha-mukherjee/) > [Natural history is not taught in seminary. This is curious, as most people in pastoral ministry are about 567 times more likely to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-maitland/natural-history-is-not-taught-in-seminary-this-is-curious-as-most/) [Sara Maitland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-maitland/) > [We are coming to a place where the road ends. From here on out, we will be making the road as we walk it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-atlee/we-are-coming-to-a-place-where-the-road-ends-from-here-on-out-we-will/) [Tom Atlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-atlee/) > [I've always been interested in medicine and was pleased when my brother became a doctor. But after thinking seriously about that field, I realized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-lowry/i-ve-always-been-interested-in-medicine-and-was-pleased-when-my/) [Lois Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-lowry/) > [Evolution... is the most powerful and the most comprehensive idea that has ever arisen on Earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-huxley/evolution-is-the-most-powerful-and-the-most-comprehensive-idea-that/) [Julian Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-huxley/) > [History employs evolution to structure biological events in time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/history-employs-evolution-to-structure-biological-events-in-time/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) [Browse all 3,034 Biology quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biology/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“This was not an academic matter. Biology, as George Wald had said, was a unique science because it could not define its subject matter. Nobody had a definition for life. Nobody knew what it was, really. The old definitions-- an organism that showed ingestion, excretion, metabolism, reproduction, and so on-- were worthless. One could always find exceptions.   The group had finally concluded that energy conversion was the hallmark of life. All living organisms in some way took in energy-- as food, or sunlight-- and converted it to another form of energy, and put it to use. (Viruses were the exception to this rule, but the group was prepared to define viruses as nonliving.)   For the next meeting, Leavitt was asked to prepare a rebuttal to the definition. He pondered it for a week, and returned with three objects: a swatch of black cloth, a watch, and a piece of granite. He set them down before the group and said, \"Gentleman, I give you three living things.\"   He then challenged the team to prove that they were not living. He placed the black cloth in the sunlight; it became warm. This, he announced, was an example of energy conversion-radiant energy to heat.   It was objected that this was merely passive energy absorption, not conversion. It was also objected that the conversion, if it could be called that, was not purposeful. It served no function.   \"How do you know it is not purposeful?\" Leavitt had demanded.   They then turned to the watch. Leavitt pointed to the radium dial, which glowed in the dark. Decay was taking place, and light was being produced.   The men argued that this was merely release of potential energy held in unstable electron levels. But there was growing confusion; Leavitt was making his point.   Finally, they came to the granite. \"This is alive,\" Leavitt said. \"It is living, breathing, walking, and talking. Only we cannot see it, because it is happening too slowly. Rock has a lifespan of three billion years. We have a lifespan of sixty or seventy years. We cannot see what is happening to this rock for the same reason that we cannot make out the tune on a record being played at the rate of one revolution every century. And the rock, for its part, is not even aware of our existence because we are alive for only a brief instant of its lifespan. To it, we are like flashes in the dark.\"   He held up his watch.   His point was clear enough, and they revised their thinking in one important respect. They conceded that it was possible that they might not be able to analyze certain life forms. It was possible that they might not be able to make the slightest headway, the least beginning, in such an analysis. ==========”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anonymous" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-was-not-an-academic-matter-biology-as-george-wald-had-said-was-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Biology" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-was-not-an-academic-matter-biology-as-george-wald-had-said-was-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7a/anonymous-1_biology_this-was-not-an-academic-matter-biology_154586.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7a/anonymous-1_biology_this-was-not-an-academic-matter-biology_154586.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7a/anonymous-1_biology_this-was-not-an-academic-matter-biology_154586.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“This was not an academic matter. Biology, as George Wald had said, was a unique science because it could not…” — Anonymous", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Anonymous", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“This was not an academic matter....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-was-not-an-academic-matter-biology-as-george-wald-had-said-was-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-was-not-an-academic-matter-biology-as-george-wald-had-said-was-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```