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Full Idea
The lives of the lower links of the Great Chain of Being trail off into vague, temporary episodes of molecular interaction.
Gist of Idea
At the lower level, life trails off into mere molecular interaction
Source
Peter van Inwagen (Material Beings [1990], 18)
Book Ref
Inwagen,Peter van: 'Material Beings' [Cornell 1995], p.239
A Reaction
His case involves conceding all sorts of vagueness to life, but asserting the utter distinctness of the full blown cases of more elaborate life. I don't really concede the distinction.