Which perspective claims that the mind cannot be reduced to mere physical processes?

The perspective that claims the mind cannot be reduced to mere physical processes is vitalism. Vitalism asserts that living organisms possess a non-physical element or vital force that distinguishes them from inanimate objects and is essential for their functioning. This view emphasizes that mental phenomena and consciousness arise from this vital essence, which cannot be fully explained by physical or chemical processes alone.

In contrast, other views like epiphenomenalism suggest that physical processes can give rise to mental phenomena, but this perspective still sees the mind as dependent on the physical. Mechanism posits that all phenomena, including mental ones, can be understood in terms of physical laws and processes, suggesting a direct correlation between physical and mental states. Atomism, focused on the idea that everything is composed of indivisible entities, does not specifically address the relationship between the mind and body or the nature of consciousness in the same way vitalism does. Thus, vitalism stands out for its insistence on the irreducibility of the mind to physical components, affirming a more holistic view of life and consciousness.