Vitalism — Vi tal*ism, n. (Biol.) The doctrine that all the functions of a living organism are due to an unknown vital principle distinct from all chemical and physical forces. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
vitalism — [vīt′ liz΄əm] n. [Fr vitalisme] the doctrine that the life in living organisms is caused and sustained by a vital force that is distinct from all physical and chemical forces and that life is, in part, self determining and self evolving vitalist… … English World dictionary
Vitalism — This article is about the non mechanist philosophy. For other uses, see vital (disambiguation). Vitalism, as defined by the Merriam Webster dictionary,[1] is a doctrine that the functions of a living organism are due to a vital principle distinct … Wikipedia
vitalism — The doctrine that there is some feature of living bodies that prevents their nature being entirely explained in physical or chemical terms. This feature may be the presence of a further ‘thing’ (such as a soul), but it may also be simply the… … Philosophy dictionary
vitalism — vitalist, n., adj. vitalistic, adj. vitalistically, adv. /vuyt l iz euhm/ 1. the doctrine that phenomena are only partly controlled by mechanical forces, and are in some measure self determining. Cf. dynamism (def. 1), mechanism (def. 8) … Universalium
vitalism — animism has been applied to many different philosophical systems. It is used to describe Aristotle s view of the relation of soul and body held also by the stoics and scholastics. On the other hand monadology (Leibniz) has also been termed… … Mini philosophy glossary
Vitalism (Jainism) — Vitalism, also known as dynamism is the philosophy expounded by Mahavira, a prominent teacher of Jainism. It combined the earlier Jain teacher Pārśvanātha s asceticism and the naturalistic teachings of the Ājīvikas.Because life is to be… … Wikipedia
vitalism — noun Date: 1822 1. a doctrine that the functions of a living organism 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 alone and… … New Collegiate Dictionary
vitalism — noun the doctrine that life involves some immaterial vital force , and cannot be explained scientifically … Wiktionary
vitalism — The theory that animal functions are dependent upon a special form of energy or force, the vital force, distinct from the physical forces. SYN: vis vitae, vis vitalis. [L. vitalis, pertaining to life] * * * vi·tal·ism vīt əl .iz əm n … Medical dictionary
