And if you write a quine computer program on a piece of paper, it won't create a copy of itself further down the page.
Or if you put a fully-functional cell in the vacuum of space, or the heart of a star, it won't replicate either.
All replicators need a suitable environment to replicate in. The fact that inhospitable/non-viable environments exist does not negate the fact that they are actually replicators.
Comments
And if you write a quine computer program on a piece of paper, it won't create a copy of itself further down the page.
Or if you put a fully-functional cell in the vacuum of space, or the heart of a star, it won't replicate either.
All replicators need a suitable environment to replicate in. The fact that inhospitable/non-viable environments exist does not negate the fact that they are actually replicators.