Lets suppose there is no metaphysical world. We are then a combination of chemical reactions. Whats amazing about us is that we are then a grouping of chemicals that's self-aware. We know how each of us is self aware as well, as we can each imagine easily that other people are also a group of chemical reactions, and equally self-aware.
But then, we can't imagine the self awareness of other animals. We cannot say for certain that a primate is self-aware the way we are, given that none of us has even consciously been a primate that's not a person. We can however say that they are also a collection of chemicals, and so they too have at least some form of self-consciousness. They know that THEY INDIVIDUALLY might be hungry, or tired, or full. So too a plant "wants" on whatever level its will exists on to have water, to be rooted, and to grow. It is capable of leaning its leaves to maximize sunlight because at whatever level it "wants" sunlight, there is a chemical reaction to make it react to sunlight because it "wants" to maximize its growth. Its no different from us wanting to eat because our stomachs growl. Each is acting as a result of chemical processes within it.
If the only definition of life is that of conscious non-stasis, then not only is a man alive, but also an ape, and a dog, and an urchin, and a plant, and a virus, and a prion.
Why stop there? If the conception of self-awareness occurs in any body of thing that has ongoing chemical processes in it, then why shouldn't the ocean itself be a living thing? You might argue that its disqualified because it has component living things inside of it, but I counter that the cells in my body do as well. Why also wouldn't my different body parts have their own thoughts and feelings? If my brain is significant because its a large lump of nerves, then the base of my spine might think I'm a jerk on a deeply subconscious level, because it too is a lump of nerves.The brontosaurus was once thought to have a second brain where a lump of nerves was thought to have been. In this conception, my liver would undoubtedly hate me.
Maybe the sun too has its thoughts. I wonder what they are.
Your thoughts?