Yes, during the Middle Ages and the era of scholasticism, phenomena in nature were often explained using metaphysical concepts like “souls” or “substantial forms.” These ideas were rooted in the philosophy of Aristotle and adapted by medieval thinkers like Thomas Aquinas. Here are a few examples:

1. The “Vegetative Soul” in Plants
   

Aristotle and scholastics posited that plants possessed a vegetative soul, which was responsible for their basic functions, such as growth, reproduction, and nutrient absorption. This was seen as the lowest level of soul, distinct from the animal and rational souls, and provided an explanation for why plants were alive and capable of these activities.

2. The “Sensitive Soul” in Animals
   

Animals were thought to have a sensitive soul, which endowed them with the ability to perceive and respond to their environment. This was used to explain why animals could see, hear, and move. For instance, a scholastic might argue that an animal’s ability to hunt or flee from danger was due to the operation of its sensitive soul, which coordinated its sensory and locomotive powers.

3. The “Rational Soul” in Humans
   

Humans were believed to have a rational soul, which included the powers of intellect and will. This concept was central to explaining human thought, morality, and decision-making. For example, a scholastic might explain human reasoning as the activity of the rational soul interpreting sensory input and forming abstract concepts.

4. Heavenly Bodies and “Intelligences”
   

In Aristotelian cosmology, celestial objects like stars and planets were thought to move because they were animated by intelligences or celestial souls. These souls were seen as immaterial and responsible for the perfect, circular motion of heavenly bodies, aligning them with divine purpose.

5. “Soul of the World”
   

Some scholastic interpretations, influenced by Neoplatonism, described the universe as being animated by a soul of the world (anima mundi). This soul unified all elements of the cosmos, explaining the harmony and order seen in nature.

6. Properties of Elements
   

The behavior of the four classical elements—earth, water, air, and fire—was sometimes attributed to their intrinsic “souls” or tendencies. For instance:

• Fire was thought to have a “soul” that drove it upward, seeking its natural place in the cosmos.
  
• Water’s “soul” was responsible for its tendency to flow downward or pool.
  

These explanations, while metaphysical and pre-scientific, were part of a coherent framework that attempted to unify all of nature’s phenomena under a system combining theology, philosophy, and observation. It wasn’t until the Scientific Revolution, with thinkers like Galileo and Newton, that these explanations were replaced with mechanistic and mathematical models.