Naturally occurring computational systems

In this paper I propose a set of ideas for delimiting the concept of a naturally occurring computational system (NOCS). The concept of a NOCS is presented as a unifying theoretical notion for the life and social sciences. These ideas provide a means for assessing the relevance of theories, models and simulations directed towards these disciplines. These ideas are organized around 5 major themes: material constraints, environmental constraints, developmental constraints, hierarchical constraints, dynamical constraints.