An example of an historical alternative conception:
"Seeing worms and flies arise from dirt and muck, [Aristotle] believed that they must be quickened from non-living matter. Some animals and plants arise by spontaneous generation. … Shellfish arise spontaneously, that is by the interaction of elements without intervention by a soul. Some plants also arise by spontaneous generation."
Lucas John Mix (2018) Life Concepts from Aristotle to Darwin. On vegetable souls. Cham, Switzerland: plagrave macmillan.
