NATURALISM

Choning zangmo Lila Dhar Bastola

Jamyang Dorji Thinley Penjor &

Karma Jamtsho

Naturalism commonly refers to the philosophical belief that only natural laws

and forces operate in the world and that nothing exists beyond the natural world.

Natural laws are the rules that govern the structure and behavior of the natural

world.

The goal of science is to discover and publish these laws. Philosopher Paul Kurtz

argues that nature is best accounted for by reference to material principles.

These principles include mass, energy, and other physical and chemical properties

accepted by the scientific community. Further, this sense of naturalism holds that

Spirits, Deities, and Ghosts are not real and that there is no "purpose" in nature. This

sense of naturalism is usually referred to as metaphysical naturalism or philosophical

naturalism.

History Naturalism as a philosophy of education was developed in the 18th century.

It is based on the assumption that nature represents the wholeness of reality.

Nature, itself, is a total system that contains and explains all existence

including human beings and human nature. According to naturalists the

material and the physical world is governed by certain laws, and man, who

is the creator of the material world, must submit to it. It denies the existence

of anything beyond nature, behind nature and other than nature such as

supernaturalism.

The great names associated with naturalism are many but the important

ones are those of Jean Jacques Rousseau, Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi,

Herbert Spencer and Rabindranath Tagore.

Types of naturalism

Methodological naturalism can mean simply that science is to be

done without reference to supernatural causes. It can also be a

methodological assumption in the philosophy of religion that observable

events are fully explainable by natural causes without reference to the

supernatural.

Metaphysical naturalism means that the cosmos consists only of

objects studied by the natural sciences, and does not include any

immaterial or intentional realities and is the basis for Methodological

naturalism.

Believe AND PRINCIPLESNaturalism is a concept that firmly believes that

ultimate reality lies in the nature of the matter. Matter is considered to be supreme and mind is the functioning of the brain that is made up of matter. The whole universe is governed by laws of nature and they are changeable. Its through our sense that we are able to get the real knowledge. The senses works like real gateways of knowledge and exploration is the method that helps in studying nature.

It is an outgrowth realism.

Comparison between naturalism and idealism (principles)

Naturalism Idealism

Nature alone is entire Reality, it is ready-made

Mind and thought are real.

The outlook of naturalist is materialistic.

The outlook of a idealist is spiritual.

They do not believe in existence of God.

Believe in the existence of God.

Universe is natural create. Universe has been created by God.

They do not believe in value, soul, God, religion and divine spirit.

Eternal spiritual values never change. Truth, goodness and beauty are eternal values.

NdNaturalism and education education

This inter-dependence can be better understood by analyzing the

implications of philosophical principles in the field of education

and the role of teacher which is also philosopher.

. In the naturalistic system of education there is no place for

classrooms, text-books, timetables, curriculum, formal lessons or

examinations.

Naturalism believes that formal education is the invention of

society which is artificial.

Naturalism also believes in the principle of individual differences

which means that every child has a unique capacity to acquire

knowledge and also the pace of learning is unique.

CONT…• The school to the naturalist is in no way different from the home• teacher is the observer and facilitator of the child's development.• believes that human beings have their own time-table for learning.• teacher kindles independent thinking, imagination and judgment.• should be patient, permissive and non-intrusive rather forcing or

hurrying children to learn.• should give emphasis on activity, exploration, learning by doing rather than lecturing, reciting and massing information.

Naturalism in Bhutanese contextz

Geography- Chemistry-chemical reactions Biology-fertilisation,puberty, pollination, growth,

germination, cells, Science- H2O cycle, food chain in the

ecosystem,etc. Mathematics- History- English-

References

Retrieved on 2nd september from: http://www.google.com/search?client=firefoxa&rls=org.mozilla%3AenUS%3Aofficial&channel=s&hl=en&source=hp&biw=1280&bih=834&q=%2F33782709%2Fnaturilism-ineducation&btnG=Google+Search.

Retrieved on 5th september from:http://www.educationguideonline.net/curriculum-and-teacher-according-to-naturalism/

Retrieved on 5th september from:http://www.egyankosh.ac.in/bitstream/123456789/25000/1/Unit3.pdf

Retrieved on 4th september from:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naturalism_%28philosophy%29