Institute of Vitalism

The Institute of Vitalism refers to a conceptual or historical idea centered on the belief that living organisms possess a unique, non-physical essence or "vital force" that distinguishes them from inanimate matter. This idea, prominent in 19th-century science and philosophy, argued that life could not be fully explained by physical or chemical processes alone. Vitalism was influential in shaping debates about life’s nature, but modern biology finds that biological functions are explainable through chemistry and physics, rendering vitalism largely obsolete. The institute, if referring to a specific organization, would have focused on studying or promoting these ideas historically.