moore for many years studied the molecular physics and structure of the organism, he came to reject mechanist and materialist explanations for the organism but also opposed idealistic and spiritualist explanations. instead he developed a theory of "biotic energy" which he discussed in his books "the origin and nature of life" (1913) and "biochemistry" (1921). similar to the vitalists he claimed that there was an energy in living bodies which could not be described in terms of physics and chemistry. john burroughs was supportive of his biotic energy theory.