Vitalism sounds similar to Harold S. Burr's "L-field" theory 1930's-1960's + EWRussel "Design for Destiny". I asked GG (Google Gemini) to explain it. It's all consistent with Burr/Russell who I've been pointing to since 2022/2023. Here's the output.

What is vitalism by adam gries?




I believe you are referring to Adam Grice's work on vitalism. While I don't have direct access to specific books or articles by Adam Grice, I can discuss vitalism based on the understanding I have, which should give you a good understanding of what Adam Grice is likely discussing in his work.



**Vitalism, in general, is the belief that living organisms are fundamentally different from non-living matter because they contain a non-physical "vital force" or "life principle" that is responsible for life, growth, and movement.** This force is often considered distinct from the laws of physics and chemistry.



Here's a breakdown of key aspects of vitalism:



* **Core Idea:** Life is not simply the result of complex chemical and physical processes. There is something *more* – a special, irreducible force or principle.


* **Distinguishing Life from Non-Life:** Vitalists sought to explain the differences between living and non-living matter through this vital force. They believed this force was essential for processes like:


* **Organization:** The intricate structures and functions of living organisms could not be explained solely by physical laws.


* **Growth and Reproduction:** The ability of organisms to grow, develop, and reproduce was seen as a manifestation of the vital force.



* **Adaptation and Self-Regulation:** The capacity of organisms to adapt to their environment and maintain internal equilibrium (homeostasis) was attributed to the vital force's ability to guide and direct biological processes.


* **Purposiveness:** The feeling that life has meaning and/or is organized with an end goal in mind.



* **Decline of Vitalism:** As science progressed, particularly in the 19th and 20th centuries, vitalism faced increasing challenges. The rise of biochemistry and molecular biology provided increasingly detailed explanations of biological processes in terms of chemical reactions and physical laws. Synthesis of organic compounds in the laboratory (e.g., urea by Friedrich Wöhler) was a key blow to the idea that organic matter could only be produced by living organisms via a vital force. Now the modern understanding of biology is that life is the result of complex chemical and physical processes, not from a vital force.



* **Legacy and Modern Relevance:** While vitalism is generally considered scientifically obsolete, it had a significant impact on the development of biology and philosophy. Remnants of vitalistic thinking can sometimes be found in alternative medicine, certain philosophical viewpoints, and discussions about the nature of consciousness.