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I think "vital force" is the term you might be looking for. While almost any scientist would just chuckle at the idea, remnants of it are still quite common in
by frenchy 11y ago
I think "vital force" is the term you might be looking for. While almost any scientist would just chuckle at the idea, remnants of it are still quite common in modern philosophy.
- hyperpape 11y agoWho/what are you thinking of when you say it's common? There's exactly one[1] post 1950 Anglosphere philosopher I could credibly associate with the idea, out of literally hundreds I've read: John Searle. And arguably that's a dismissive appraisal of what he thinks (but I don't think his view makes any damn sense, so that's what I'm stuck with). [1] Honorable mention to Trenton Merricks and Peter Van Inwagen who have strange beliefs that sound a bit like belief in a vital force, but aren't: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mereological_nihilism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mereological_nihilism Edit: I see you say remnants. I suppose a lot of this is open to interpretation about what a remnant is.