animatism

[ an-uh-muh-tiz-uh m ]
/ ˈæn ə məˌtɪz əm /

noun

the attribution of consciousness to inanimate objects and natural phenomena.

Origin of animatism

First recorded in 1895–1900; animate + -ism

Example sentences from the Web for animatism

  • What truth there was in that doctrine is fully covered by Animatism.

  • Animatism, the animation theory of seemingly inanimate nature, is a further subdivision which also includes animatism and animism.

    Totem and Taboo |Sigmund Freud

British Dictionary definitions for animatism

animatism
/ (ˈænɪməˌtɪzəm) /

noun

the belief that inanimate objects have consciousness