naturalism

American  

[nach-er-uh-liz-uhm, nach-ruh-] / ˈnætʃ ər əˌlɪz əm, ˈnætʃ rə- /

noun

1. Literature.

   1. a manner or technique of treating subject matter that presents, through volume of detail, a deterministic view of human life and actions.

   2. a deterministic theory of writing in which it is held that a writer should adopt an objective view toward the material written about, be free of preconceived ideas as to form and content, and represent with clinical accuracy and frankness the details of life.

   3. a representation of natural appearances or natural patterns of speech, manner, etc., in a work of fiction.

   4. the depiction of the physical environment, especially landscape or the rural environment.

2. (in a work of art) treatment of forms, colors, space, etc., as they appear or might appear in nature.

3. action arising from or based on natural instincts and desires alone.

4. Philosophy.

   1. the view of the world that takes account only of natural elements and forces, excluding the supernatural or spiritual.

   2. the belief that all phenomena are covered by laws of science and that all teleological explanations are therefore without value.

5. Theology.

   1. the doctrine that all religious truth is derived from a study of natural processes and not from revelation.

   2. the doctrine that natural religion is sufficient for salvation.

6. adherence or attachment to what is natural.

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naturalism British  

/ -tʃərə-, ˈnætʃrəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. 1. a movement, esp in art and literature, advocating detailed realistic and factual description, esp that in 19th-century France in the writings of Zola, Flaubert, etc

   2. the characteristics or effects of this movement

2. a school of painting or sculpture characterized by the faithful imitation of appearances for their own sake

3. the belief that all religious truth is based not on revelation but rather on the study of natural causes and processes

4. philosophy

   1. a scientific account of the world in terms of causes and natural forces that rejects all spiritual, supernatural, or teleological explanations

   2. the meta-ethical thesis that moral properties are reducible to natural ones, or that ethical judgments are derivable from nonethical ones Compare naturalistic fallacy descriptivism

5. action or thought caused by natural desires and instincts

6. devotion to that which is natural

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naturalism ¹ Cultural  

1. A movement in literature and the arts, and an approach to philosophy. Literary and artistic naturalism aims at accuracy and objectivity and cultivates realistic and even sordid portrayals of people and their environment. Philosophical naturalism, which is often identified with materialism, holds that minds, spirits, and ideas are fundamentally material.

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naturalism ² Cultural  

1. In the visual arts, an attempt to depict the natural world as accurately and objectively as possible.

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Other Word Forms

• antinaturalism
  noun
• nonnaturalism
  noun

Etymology

Origin of naturalism

First recorded in 1635–45; natural + -ism

Explanation

Naturalism is the belief that nothing exists beyond the natural world. Instead of using supernatural or spiritual explanations, naturalism focuses on explanations that come from the laws of nature. Beyond the belief that everything can be explained using nature, naturalism is also a term for a particular style of art and literature from the 19th century. Naturalism refers to a realistic approach to art that rejects idealized experiences. So when you look at a painting that embodies the spirit of naturalism, you'll notice it capturing the real world rather than trying to make things look better than they are. With naturalism: what you see is what you get.

Example Sentences

Naturalism was paramount for Johnson, including making sure that the outfits worked for both de Armas’s body and a contemporary viewing audience.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 27, 2022

Naturalism, in its simplest form, is the view that meaningful inquiry includes only the physical and the laws governing physical entities and rejects the priority placed on reason assumed within metaphysics.

From Textbooks • Jun. 15, 2022

Naturalism was a huge part of the ethos of the look, so there is minimal lighting design.

From Salon • Jan. 23, 2022

An aesthetic you might call Obvious Naturalism is the result.

From New York Times • Apr. 23, 2019

This independent system is Naturalism, and against its attacks the religious conception of the world has to stand on the defensive.

From Naturalism And Religion by Otto, Rudolf

Related Words

• faithfulness
• loyalty