Geoperipatism

Geoperipatism is a term that describes the philosophical belief that all things possess a kind of soul or vital principle, which is inherent in their very being and operation. This concept is closely associated with the philosophy of Aristotle and his followers, known as Peripatetics. The word itself is derived from "geo" (earth) and "peripatism," suggesting a terrestrial or immanent form of the Aristotelian idea of soul.

In Aristotelian philosophy, the soul is not a separate entity but rather the form or essence of a living thing, its actuality. It is what makes a thing what it is and allows it to perform its functions. Geoperipatism extends this notion, suggesting that even inanimate objects have a rudimentary form of this animating principle, a kind of intrinsic drive or tendency towards their natural state or purpose. This is not to say that rocks have consciousness or feelings in the human sense, but rather that their existence and behavior are governed by an internal principle of organization and activity.

This view contrasts with dualistic philosophies that separate the material world from a spiritual or immaterial realm. Geoperipatism maintains a monistic perspective, where the vital principle is an integral part of the material world, not something external to it. The development and understanding of geoperipatism were influenced by various thinkers who sought to reconcile Aristotelian physics and metaphysics with observations of the natural world, emphasizing the interconnectedness and intrinsic dynamism of all physical entities.