vitalism
This term describes a specific philosophical stance that rejects pure mechanism, suggesting that life cannot be reduced to chemical or physical reactions alone. It carries a historical connotation of early biological debate, often contrasted with materialism or reductionism in scientific discourse.
In modern contexts, the word is frequently associated with holistic or alternative medicine. When used in a medical or psychological sense, it often implies a belief in an invisible energy or life force, which may be viewed as pseudoscientific by the mainstream medical community.
Meanings
The philosophical or biological belief that living organisms are fundamentally different from non-living entities because they contain a non-physical element or "vital spark" that governs their functions.
The early biologists debated whether vitalism could explain the complex processes of cellular growth.