vitalism

n. belief that life in organisms is caused and maintained by a force that is distinct from all chemical and physical forces

Vitalism, as defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary, isa doctrine that the functions of a living organism are due to a vital principle distinct from physicochemical forcesa doctrine that the processes of life are not explicable by the laws of physics and chemistry alone and that life is in some part self-determining'' Where vitalism explicitly invokes a vital principle, that element is often referred to as the "vital spark," "energy" or "élan vital," which some equate with the "soul."
See more at Wikipedia.org...

Noun
1. (philosophy) a doctrine that life is a vital principle distinct from physics and chemistry
(hypernym) philosophical doctrine, philosophical theory
(classification) philosophy

(n.)
The doctrine that all the functions of a living organism are due to an unknown vital principle distinct from all chemical and physical forces.
  

The theory or doctrine that something nonmaterial and nonchemical is basically or partly responsible for life or for human life.