Definition of life force

The term "life force" initially appeared in the late 19th century, in line with the growing interest in alternative medical practices such as spiritualism, mesmerism, and vitalism. It stemmed from the belief that there exists an inherent energy, distinct from physical matter, that sustains living organisms and accounts for their vitality. The term was popularized by the French physiologist and vitalist, Charles Richet, who proposed the concept of "biophysics," investigating the non-mechanical phenomena in living systems. Richet coined the phrase "force vital" to describe the vital energy, which he argued was capable of defying the known laws of physics and chemistry. Towards the start of the 20th century, the word "life force" gradually replaced the term "vital force," and gained wider acceptance within new age, new thought, and holistic movements. These movements viewed the concept as fundamental to addressing the spiritual aspects of healing, and presented it as an alternative explanation to the predominant scientific understanding of life as stemming strictly from chemical and physical processes. In popular culture, "life force" continues to be associated with an ensemble of intriguing concepts, such as the vital energy in acupuncture, chakras in Eastern spirituality, and qi or chi, a central concept in traditional Chinese medicine.