organicism

or·gan·i·cism

noun \ȯr-ˈga-nə-ˌsi-zəm\

Definition of ORGANICISM

1

a : the explanation of life and living processes in terms of the levels of organization of living systems rather than in terms of the properties of their smallest components b : vitalism

2

: any of various theories that attribute to society or the universe as a whole an existence or characteristics analogous to those of a biological organism

— or·gan·i·cist \-sist\ noun or adjective

Origin of ORGANICISM

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use: 1883