This volume investigates the theoretical and practical boundaries of life by examining synthetic systems that replicate biological behaviors. Christopher G. Langton, a pioneer in the field of artificial life, compiles research from the Santa Fe Institute to argue that life is a property of organization rather than a specific chemical substrate. The text presents a framework for understanding life-as-it-could-be by synthesizing biological processes within computational environments.

Experts recognize this proceedings volume as a foundational text for researchers in complex systems and theoretical biology. Readers frequently note the technical density of the papers, which serve as a primary record of the early development of artificial life research.