Was Ostwald's 'energetics' a form of vitalism?
Some may misunderstand my emphasis on energy as a return to vitalistic notions. This is incorrect. My 'energetics' is precisely the opposite of vitalism; it is a rigorous, materialistic, and quantitative philosophy grounded in thermodynamics. I sought to *overcome* the scientific materialism of my time not by positing non-material forces, but by asserting that energy, a measurable and quantifiable entity, is the fundamental substance of reality. Vitalism often invokes intangible 'life forces,' whereas I pointed to the universal, quantifiable principles of energy transfer and transformation as the driving force behind all phenomena. My work aimed for greater scientific rigor, not less.
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