Lebenkraft

Lebenkraft, more commonly written Lebenskraft in standard German, is a term that translates roughly as "life force" or "vital energy." Its stem combines Leben (life) and Kraft (force or strength). In philosophy and history, the concept is associated with vitalism, a position that living beings are animated by a non-material life force that cannot be reduced to chemistry alone. Vitalist ideas flourished in 18th- and 19th-century thought and influenced literature and medicine, but they are not part of contemporary biological theory, which explains life processes through biochemistry, genetics, and physiology.

In modern usage, Lebenskraft or Lebenskraft-like notions appear in wellness and holistic traditions, self-help discourse, and popular culture as a metaphor for personal energy, vitality, and resilience. Some contemporary practitioners may speak of cultivating one’s Lebenskraft through exercise, nutrition, mindfulness, or energy-work, though such claims are not scientifically verified. The term also crops up as a brand name, fictional concept, or stylistic variant in books, games, and media.

See also: Lebenskraft; vitalism; life force; energy medicine.