vitalism

vi·tal·ism   (vīt'l-ĭz'əm)    n.  The theory or doctrine that life processes arise from or contain a nonmaterial vital principle and cannot be explained entirely as physical and chemical phenomena. vi'tal·ist adj. & n., vi'tal·is'tic adj.

Main Entry: vi·tal·ism
Pronunciation: 'vIt-^&l-"iz-&m
Function: noun
1 : a doctrine that the functions of a livingorganism are due to a vital principle distinct from physicochemical forces
2 : a doctrine that the processes of life are not explicable by the laws of physics and chemistry aloneand that life is in some part self-determining

vitalism

school of scientific thought-the germ of which dates from Aristotle-that attempts (in opposition to mechanism and organicism) to explain the nature of life as resulting from a vital force peculiar to living organisms and different from all other forces found outside living things. This force is held to control form and development and to direct the activities of the organism. Vitalism has lost prestige as the chemical and physical nature of more and more vital phenomena have been shown.

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