Vitalist: meaning, definitions and examples

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vitalist

[ ˈvʌɪt(ə)lɪst ]

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philosophy

A vitalist is someone who believes that living organisms are fundamentally different from non-living entities because they contain some non-physical element or are governed by different principles.

Synonyms

animist, life force proponent, vital force advocate

Examples of usage

Many vitalists reject the idea of reductionism in biology, arguing that life cannot be fully explained by physical and chemical processes alone.
Vitalists often emphasize the role of a vital force or energy in living organisms.
Some vitalists believe in the existence of a soul or spirit that animates living things.

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historical

In the 19th century, vitalists were proponents of the theory that living organisms are fundamentally different from non-living entities.

Synonyms

life principle advocate, vitalism supporter

Examples of usage

The vitalist movement gained popularity in the 1800s, with many scientists and philosophers subscribing to its principles.
Vitalists believed that life could not be reduced to purely mechanical or chemical processes.

Translations

Translations of the word "vitalist" in other languages:

🇵🇹 vitalista

🇮🇳 जीवनवादी (jīvanvādī)

🇩🇪 Vitalist

🇮🇩 vitalis

🇺🇦 віталіст

🇵🇱 witalista

🇯🇵 バイタリスト (baitarisuto)

🇫🇷 vitaliste

🇪🇸 vitalista

🇹🇷 vitalist

🇰🇷 생기주의자 (saenggijuyija)

🇸🇦 حيوي (hayawi)

🇨🇿 vitalista

🇸🇰 vitalista

🇨🇳 生命主义者 (shēngmìng zhǔyì zhě)

🇸🇮 vitalist

🇮🇸 lífhyggju

🇰🇿 өміршіл

🇬🇪 ვიტალისტი (vitalisti)

🇦🇿 vitalist

🇲🇽 vitalista

Word origin

The concept of vitalism has a long history, dating back to ancient times when philosophers and scientists pondered the nature of life and the difference between living and non-living things. Vitalism gained prominence in the 18th and 19th centuries as a reaction to mechanistic views of life promoted by scientists like René Descartes and Isaac Newton. While vitalism has largely fallen out of favor in mainstream science, it continues to influence philosophical and metaphysical discussions about the nature of life and consciousness.

See also: vitality, vitalization, vitalize, vitalized.