Posted: July 29th, 2015

History & Philosophy of Complementary & Alternative Medicine

The vitalist philosophy was the perspective which predominated in scientific thinking in the

19th century and was used to explain the difference between living and inert matter. With

the rise of the scientific revolution and the emergence of biomedicine the vitalist philosophy

lost popularity. What is vitalism and the vitalist philosophy? How is vitalist philosophy

relevant to CAM practitioners today? Discuss the significance of this philosophical approach

to living systems in relation to naturopathy, western herbal medicine or nutrition.