Naturalism (philosophy): Difference between revisions

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'''Naturalism''' is any of several philosophical stances, typically those descended from [[materialism]] and [[pragmatism]], thataccording doto not distinguish between the [[supernatural]] and thewhich [[nature|natural]]. Naturalismis does not claimall that phenomena or hypotheses commonly labeled as supernatural necessarily do not exist or are wrong, but insists that they are not inherently different from natural phenomena or hypotheses, and that both supernatural and natural phenomena and hypotheses can be studied by the same methodsexists.

This means, it is not possible to distinguish the [[supernatural]] from nature. Naturalism does not claim that phenomena or hypotheses commonly labeled as supernatural necessarily do not exist or are wrong, but insists that they are not inherently different from any other phenomena or hypotheses, and that all phenomena and hypotheses can be studied by the same methods.

Any method of inquiry or investigation or any procedure for gaining [[knowledge]] that limits itself to natural, physical, and material approaches and explanations can be described as naturalistic.

Any method of inquiry or investigation or any procedure for gaining [[knowledge]] that limitsdoes itselfnot appeal to natural, physical, and material approaches andthe explanationssupernatural can be described as naturalistic.

Distinctions are sometimes made between two approaches, the first being '''methodological naturalism''' or '''scientific naturalism''', and the second '''ontological naturalism''' or '''metaphysical naturalism'''. The first approach underlies the application of the [[scientific method]] in [[science]], which makes the [[methodology|methodological]] assumption that [[observation|observable]] events in [[nature]] are explained only by natural causes without assuming the existence or non-existence of the supernatural. The second approach refers to the metaphysical [[assumption]] that the natural world is all that exists.

Distinctions are sometimes made between two approaches, the first being '''ontological naturalism''' or '''metaphysical naturalism''', and the second '''methodological naturalism''' or '''scientific naturalism'''. The first approach makes the [[ontological]] claim, that the natural world is all that exists. The second approach asserts that knowledge can be gained only by using a single [[method]], which is mostly the [[scientific method]].

This distinction between approaches to the philosophy is particularly made by those involved in the [[creation-evolution controversy]]. Proponents of [[Creationism]] or [[intelligent design]] often refer to ''methodological naturalism'' as '''scientific materialism''' or as '''methodological materialism''' to distinguish it from their preferred approach of a revived [[natural philosophy]] which welcomes supernatural explanations for natural phenomena.