Dennett cites vitalism to support his stance. Vitalism suffered such a fate: we’ve given up on the idea that there is some extra special ingredient, an élan vital, that breathes life into this collection of cells. If you show me a collection of cells that have the ability to replicate themselves, that miaows and purrs like a cat, and then declare that it isn’t actually alive, it would be very difficult to convince me. Some believe that arguments over consciousness will go the same way as those over vitalism.
Vitalism
