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.

---

biophilia British  

/ ˌbaɪəʊˈfɪlɪə /

noun

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

---

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

He discovered hundreds of new species by putting his hands in the dirt as a field biologist, synthesized evolving thinking in science and helped popularize terms such as biodiversity and biophilia to explain it.

From Washington Post • Dec. 27, 2021

The effort seeks to give office workers access to fresh air, sunlight and plants, in tune with the concept of biophilia, which says humans have an innate connection with nature.

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