anima

philosophy

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June 18, 2026

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The term "anima" in philosophy, particularly in the analytical psychology of Carl Gustav Jung, refers to an individual's true inner self, reflecting archetypal ideals of conduct. It can also represent the inner feminine aspect of the male personality. This concept is related to the Latin word "anima," meaning soul or breath, signifying life force.12

In a broader philosophical context, "anima mundi" (Latin for "world soul") describes a vital force or principle believed to permeate the entire world. This idea is distinct from "animism," which is the belief in innumerable spiritual beings concerned with human affairs. While major world religions may contain animistic elements, animism itself is more characteristic of tribal peoples' religions.34

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Lucretius
Argument of the poem
…has two connected parts: the anima distributed throughout the body, which is the cause of sensation, and the animus in the breast, the central consciousness. The soul is born and grows with the body, and at death it is dissipated like “smoke.”
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…has two connected parts: the anima distributed throughout the body, which is the cause of sensation, and the animus in the breast, the central consciousness. The soul is born and grows with the body, and at death it is dissipated like “smoke.”
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Georg Ernst Stahl
Teachings in medicine
…“natura” (nature) and sometimes “anima” (soul). Anima functioned with a natural reason (“ratio”), in contrast to logical, critical reasoning (“ratiocinatio”) that the rational soul performed. This natural reason of anima was the source of the remarkable self-healing power of the organism, and when misled, such as by emotions, it…
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…“natura” (nature) and sometimes “anima” (soul). Anima functioned with a natural reason (“ratio”), in contrast to logical, critical reasoning (“ratiocinatio”) that the rational soul performed. This natural reason of anima was the source of the remarkable self-healing power of the organism, and when misled, such as by emotions, it…
Read More