An example of an historical alternative conception:
"Drawing on Presocratic ideas of fire as the basis of life, Aristotle thought in terms of a fifth element, a fire-like substance, more refined than fire and making up souls. This soul stuff is not the aether, with which Aristotle populated the heavens, but is related to it."
Lucas John Mix (2018) Life Concepts from Aristotle to Darwin. On vegetable souls. Cham, Switzerland: plagrave macmillan.
