The material organism, without the vital force, is capable of no sensation, no function, no self-preservation(1), it derives all sensation and performs all the functions of life solely by means of the immaterial being (the vital force) which animates the material organism in health and in disease.
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(1) It is dead, and only subject to the power of the external physical world; it decays, and is again resolved into its chemical constituents.
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SUMMARY
The Interdependence of the Material Organism and Vital Force
Vital Force and Life
- Essential Role: The vital force is crucial for enabling sensation, function, and self-preservation in the material organism.
- Immaterial Influence: It is the immaterial aspect that animates the body, allowing it to function in both health and disease.
Material Organism Without Vital Force
- Inactivity: Without the vital force, the organism cannot perform any life functions; it is considered dead.
- Susceptibility to Decay: In the absence of the vital force, the material organism is subject to external physical forces, leading to decay and eventual breakdown into chemical constituents.
