dynamism

philosophy

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 25, 2026

Quick Summary

In philosophy, dynamism is a theory suggesting that all phenomena, including matter and motion, can be explained as manifestations of force. This contrasts with mechanism, which seeks explanations in mechanical interactions. Dynamism emphasizes active strength, energy, and vigor.12

Process philosophy, a related concept, views reality as fundamentally characterized by becoming, change, and novelty, rather than permanence and uniformity. It posits that reality is historical, constantly emerging from the past and advancing into a new future. Key figures in process philosophy include Henri Bergson and Alfred North Whitehead. Dynamics, in physics, is the branch of mechanics concerned with motion and the forces that affect it, such as mass, momentum, and energy.34

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

5 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

hylomorphism
are atomism, mechanism, and dynamism, all of which deny the intrinsic composition of metaphysical principles in bodies and recognize only physical principles, such as corpuscles, pure mathematical extension, or forces and energies. These theories agree also in denying the hylomorphist’s claim that intrinsic change can occur in the ultimate…
Read More
are atomism, mechanism, and dynamism, all of which deny the intrinsic composition of metaphysical principles in bodies and recognize only physical principles, such as corpuscles, pure mathematical extension, or forces and energies. These theories agree also in denying the hylomorphist’s claim that intrinsic change can occur in the ultimate…
Read More