.......--/                                          /--.......
......--/^                                          ^/--......
.....--/^§                                          §^/--.....
....--/^§&                                          &§^/--....
...--/^§&@                                          @&§^/--...
..--/^§&@#                  --§@--                  #@&§^/--..
.--/^§&@##                --§    §--                ##@&§^/--.
..--/^§&@#              --§  life  §--              #@&§^/--..
...--/^§&@                --§    §--                @&§^/--...
....--/^§&                  --@§--                  &§^/--....
.....--/^§                                          §^/--.....
......--/^ - - § a multitude  of definitions  § - - ^/--......
.......--/ -   §   does   not   help.    we   §   - /--.......
........-- §     can     say     "life     is     § --........
.........- -   §    what    we   are,   and   §   - -.........
.......... -  -  §  what  things  like  us  §  -  - ..........
.........- -    §   are",   but   then   we   §   - -.........
........-- §    must    also    define    what    § --........
.......--/ -  §  "things  like  us"  actually  §  - /--.......
......--/^ -  -  § entails,  how  it should  § -  - ^/--......
.....--/^§ -   §   be  measured,   who   or   §   - §^/--.....
....--/^§& §    what    is    the    arbiter,     § &§^/--....
...--/^§&@ -   §   and  so   instead   there   §  - @&§^/--...
..--/^§&@# -    -   §   is   this   internationally #@&§^/--..
.--/^§&@## sanctioned      list     §      -      - ##@&§^/--.
..--/^§&@# -  -  -  - §  of  criteria  §  -  - -  - #@&§^/--..
...--/^§&@                                          @&§^/--...
....--/^§& - life must produce or consume milk      &§^/--....
.....--/^§ - life must have a beginning and an end  §^/--.....
......--/^ - life can have dreams and can interact  ^/--......
.......--/ - life can steal                         /--.......
........-- - life can be cursed                     --........
.........-                                          -.........
..........                                          ..........
.........-                                          -.........
........--                                          --........
.......--/                                          /--.......