NATURALISMS. Issue 56 (2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bryant, Amanda
• Is Part Of: Think. Volume 19:Issue 56(2020)
• Page Start: 35
• Page End: 50
• Publication Date: 2020
• Subjects: Philosophy -- Periodicals; 105
• DOI: 10.1017/S1477175620000196
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1477-1756

Abstract

Abstract : The word 'naturalism' has a bewildering array of uses in philosophy. Roughly speaking, it connotes pro-scientific attitudes and approaches. This article introduces the subject of naturalism by sketching a history of pro-scientific attitudes and approaches in philosophy, from their origins in the early modern period through to the present day. It then distinguishes a number of distinct families of naturalism: metaphysical, logico-linguistic, epistemological, and methodological. The resulting taxonomy encompasses a plurality of loosely related views rather than a number of variations on a single clear and unified theme.