Probably dumb question, are molecules considered living beings of some sort? If so, are all things "living"? If not, why do molecules "do"?

Billy

No, they're not. That analogy about the rock is wrong. First, what is going on with molecules isn't any expression of any consciousness or freewill but is merely the laws of physics playing out as objects already in motion stay in motion until acted upon by another object in motion staying in motion or a force. That brings me to my second point: a rock on the floor next to you only appears to be not doing anything, but it is doing exactly what molecules do: being in motion and staying in motion until acted upon by another object or a force as per the laws of physics. You see, that rock is traveling in a circle around the center of the Earth at a speed of about 1,000 mph and is soaring around the Sun at 67,000 mph and is moving towards the star Vega at about 43,000 mph and the list goes on. It only looks like it's not doing nothing because you happened to be traveling around the center of the Earth at 1,000 mph, soaring around the Sun at 67,000 mph, moving towards Vega at about 43,000 mph, etc., too. It's only because your movement relative to that rock matches that rock's movement so closely that it appears still and not to be doing anything.

MARK

Molecules are not classed as living. That is why, in exams, students are marked wrong for writing the nonsense: "When the temperature was too hot the enzymes (a kind of molecule) died (non-living things cannot die)". N.B. The words in parentheses are my comments not part of the example answer.

Zardoz

You nailed it with the dumb question, though.

poldi2

No, molecules are not considered living beings.