Vitalism (Noun)
Meaning
(philosophy) a doctrine that life is a vital principle distinct from physics and chemistry.
Classification
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents.
Examples
- The ancient Greeks believed in vitalism, which held that there was a non-physical force that animated living beings and set them apart from inanimate objects.
- The doctrine of vitalism was used to explain the difference between living and non-living things, and it was influential in the development of Western philosophy.
- Despite the advancements of modern science, some people still hold onto vitalism as a way of understanding the mysterious and complex nature of life.
- However, the scientific community has largely rejected vitalism in favor of more empirically supported explanations for the nature of life and living organisms.
- The concept of vitalism has had a lasting impact on the philosophy of biology and the way we think about the relationship between living and non-living things.