The term biophilia was coined by the American biologist, Edward O. Wilson (1929–), to mean "the innate tendency [of human beings] to focus on life and lifelike processes" and "connections that human beings subconsciously seek with the rest of life." Wilson first used the word in 1979 in an article published in the New York Times Book Review, and then in 1984 he wrote a short book (157 pages) that explored the notion in more detail.

Clearly, humans have coexisted with other species throughout our evolutionary history. In Wilson's view, this relationship has resulted in humans developing an innate, genetically based, or "hard-wired" need to be close to other species and to be empathetic to their needs. The presumed relationship is reciprocal, meaning other animals are also to varying degrees empathetic with the needs of humans. The biophilia hypothesis seems intuitively reasonable, although it is likely impossible that it could ever be...