biophilia

American  

[bahy-oh-fil-ee-uh, ‑-feel-yuh] / ˌbaɪ oʊˈfɪl i ə, ‑ˈfil yə /

noun

1. a love of life and the living world; the affinity of human beings for other life forms.

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biophilia British  

/ ˌbaɪəʊˈfɪlɪə /

noun

1. an innate love for the natural world, supposed to be felt universally by humankind

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Etymology

Origin of biophilia

1960–65; from New Latin: literally, “love of life” from bio- ( def. ) + -philia ( def. ); coined by Erich Fromm in The Heart of Man: Its Genius for Good and Evil (1964) to mean “love for humanity and nature, and independence and freedom”; extended by Edward O. Wilson in Biophilia (1984) to mean “the rich, natural pleasure that comes from being surrounded by living organisms.”

Example Sentences

Thus American society stands broadly convicted of necrophilia — as opposed to biophilia.

From Salon • Apr. 9, 2024

“Instead of biophilia being a fun little footnote, it became essential.”

From New York Times • Aug. 25, 2021

One is the biophilia hypothesis, which posits that because we evolved surrounded by plants and greenery we have an innate affinity for them.

From Slate • Jun. 30, 2020

I’m struck by how this zoo holiday helps fulfil what US naturalist EO Wilson called biophilia – our craving for a deep connection with other species.

From The Guardian • May 31, 2019

Scientists today refer to the biophilia hypothesis, in which we are — as the name suggests — drawn to nature through deeply evolved attractions to favorable landscapes.

From Washington Post