Naturalism

Definition

Naturalism is a philosophical viewpoint that asserts everything arises from natural properties and causes, and supernatural or spiritual explanations are excluded or discounted. It emphasizes that everything can be understood through scientific inquiry and observation, leading to a reliance on empirical evidence. This perspective profoundly influenced various fields, particularly during the Enlightenment, where reason and scientific thought began to shape understanding of the world.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Naturalism emerged as a reaction against metaphysical and religious explanations, promoting a worldview based on observable phenomena.
2. Key thinkers associated with naturalism during the Enlightenment included philosophers like David Hume and John Locke, who championed reason and skepticism about religious dogma.
3. Naturalism influenced the development of modern science by encouraging the use of the scientific method to explore natural laws and phenomena.
4. Literature during the Enlightenment also reflected naturalistic themes, portraying characters and events in ways that emphasized environment and heredity over free will or divine influence.
5. The shift towards naturalism helped lay the groundwork for later philosophical movements, such as existentialism and pragmatism, which further explored human experience without recourse to supernatural explanations.

Review Questions

• How did naturalism challenge traditional views during the Enlightenment?
  • Naturalism challenged traditional views by promoting an understanding of the world that relied on empirical evidence rather than faith or supernatural explanations. Thinkers like David Hume questioned religious doctrines and emphasized reason as a way to acquire knowledge. This shift encouraged a more skeptical approach to understanding existence, paving the way for advancements in scientific thought that prioritized observable phenomena over metaphysical speculation.
• In what ways did naturalism influence literature and art during the Enlightenment?
  • Naturalism had a profound impact on literature and art during the Enlightenment by emphasizing realistic portrayals of everyday life, human behavior, and social conditions. Writers began to focus on characters shaped by their environments and circumstances rather than idealized heroes or divine intervention. This led to the emergence of literary styles that mirrored naturalistic themes, highlighting issues such as class struggle, familial influences, and psychological motivations in character development.
• Evaluate the long-term implications of naturalism on modern philosophy and science.
  • The long-term implications of naturalism on modern philosophy and science have been substantial. By establishing a framework that prioritizes observation and empirical evidence, naturalism paved the way for advancements in scientific inquiry, leading to significant discoveries across various disciplines. Additionally, it influenced contemporary philosophical discussions about ethics, existence, and human nature, prompting debates about free will versus determinism and shaping how we understand our place in the universe within a purely materialistic context.

Related terms

Empiricism:

The theory that all knowledge is derived from sense-experience, emphasizing observation and experimentation as the primary sources of knowledge.

Rationalism:

A philosophical belief that reason is the chief source of knowledge, emphasizing logical deduction over sensory experience.

Materialism:

The doctrine that nothing exists except matter and its movements and modifications, often connected to naturalistic views in philosophy.