Vitalism

Vitalism is a philosophical perspective that suggests living organisms are fundamentally different from non-living entities because they possess a vital force or energy that cannot be explained solely by physical or chemical processes. It proposes that this unique life force influences growth, development, and health. Historically, vitalism was significant in debates about biology and philosophy, but it has largely fallen out of favor in modern science, which seeks to explain life through molecular biology and biochemistry, focusing on the physical and chemical interactions that drive biological processes.