Naturalism
Religious Studies: OCR A Level, topic 2.7.1
Naturalism
Naturalism is a belief that moral values can be discovered through observation of the natural world.
Understanding naturalism
- Naturalism suggests that values exist as part of natural properties like pleasure or happiness.
- G.E. Moore questioned naturalism in 1903, arguing in "Principia Ethica" that identifying good with any natural property leads to the "naturalistic fallacy."
- Naturalism is rooted in empirical evidence, meaning it relies on observable and measurable phenomena.
Naturalism and absolutism
- Absolutism holds that moral principles are universal and fixed.
- According to naturalism, absolutist values are part of natural laws and thus universally applicable.
- Naturalism supports the idea that some actions are inherently right or wrong, regardless of context.
- By linking moral laws to natural properties, naturalism provides a foundation for moral absolutism.
Challenges to naturalism
- Critics argue that not all values can be reduced to natural properties.
- Some philosophers, like David Hume in the 18th century, claimed that naturalism confuses descriptive facts with prescriptive values.
- Hume's "is-ought" distinction suggests you cannot derive moral "ought" from natural "is."
- Critics propose alternative ethical theories, like intuitionism, which rejects the idea that values are natural.
Historical context of naturalism
- Naturalism dates back to ancient philosophers like Aristotle, who identified virtues as natural states.
- In the 19th century, Charles Darwin's theory of evolution influenced naturalism, suggesting morality evolved naturally.
- The 20th century further formalised naturalism through philosophers like G.E. Moore and A.J. Ayer.
- Each historical figure contributed to shaping naturalism by integrating observations from natural science.
Examples of naturalism in absolutism
- A naturalist might argue that kindness is morally good as it promotes living in harmony with others, a natural human need.
- An absolutist view would see kindness as universally good, supported by its natural benefit to society.
- For example, caring for others improves community wellbeing, creating naturally observable benefits.
- This reflects naturalism's principle that moral good can be defined through natural human flourishing.
Test yourself on Naturalism
What is the name of G.E. Moore's 1903 paper that questioned naturalism?
What is the 'naturalistic fallacy'?