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 principle) 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 Relationship Between Material Organism and Vital Force
Role of the Vital Force
- Source of Life: The vital force is essential for sensation, function, and self-preservation of the material organism.
- Immaterial Influence: It animates the body, enabling it to experience life both in health and during disease.
Function of the Material Organism
- Inability Without Vital Force: The material organism cannot perform any life functions or sensations on its own; it is inactive and lifeless without the vital principle.
- Decay and Chemical Breakdown: In the absence of the vital force, the organism decays and reverts to its chemical elements, becoming susceptible to the external physical environment.
