Naturalism
Naturalism: belief that only natural laws and forces
operate in the world (opposite of theism) Most often
seen in connection with science (scientific
naturalism)
Context and Origin
19th century - Religion and Science had a symbiotic relationship.
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Both were equally valued as means to revealed truth, however, as the century
progressed, there began a great divide as both science and religion struggled
to engage with Darwinism. “A theory of biological evolution developed by Charles Darwin and others, stating that all
species of organisms have developed from other species, primarily through natural selection. Also called Darwinian theory.” (The Free
Dictionary)
French revolutionary writer Constantin Francois de Volney (1757-1820): The law
of nature (1793).
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Volney rejected revelation and called for the worship of Nature. Volney taught
that “Man’s happiness increased the more he acted in accordance with
the law of nature and that science was necessary to know the ‘facts’ of
nature.”
Another influential contributor to Naturalism
“1847, Combe (British)
Naturalism = new faith
“natural laws are the providential instructor of humanity”. “Science ...has banished
the “belief in.. special acts of supernatural power, as a means of influencing
human affairs, and in its place has presented a systematic order of nature, which
man may study, comprehend, and follow, as a guide to his practical conduct...”
https://jamescungureanu.wordpress.com/category/nineteenth-century/
What it has come to mean
Modern Scientific Naturalism:
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the view that the universe, its characteristics, and its behaviors are
to be investigated and understood in purely naturalistic terms.
Everything that exists and everything that occurs is part of the
natural universe and is subject to examination (this includes human
beings)
The universe is a closed system: all events occur for naturalistic
reasons and that there cannot be anything or anyone from outside
that system which acts upon it.
Laws of Nature as a means to explain everything both visible and
invisible.
Scientific Naturalism in Literature
A Prominent Literary Style in the 19th century. Characterized as follows:
“The naturalist often describes his characters as though they are conditioned
and controlled by environment, heredity, instinct, or chance.
(https://public.wsu.edu/~campbelld/amlit/natural.htm
What are some of the Natural Scientific Laws?
Go outside to a “spot” For 5 minutes simply observe and take notes on the
scientific laws you see at work. Be very specific. Do not talk to each other or sit
near each other or discuss what you are looking at.
What laws do you see at work and in what way?
Now - what do your observations tell you about yourself?
Brainstorm early Scenes in Elephant Man
What ideas of scientific naturalism do we see evidence of in
the early scenes?
Scientific Naturalism in The Elephant Man
In the opening scenes we notice that Merrick is observed by Treves in a clinical,
objective, distancing way. He is compared to animals (lizards, elephants) nature
(cauliflower) etc...The only “human” aspect is his one arm that resembles a lady’s
hand.
Treves views him as an object to be studied and is willing to use him.
Knowing is descriptive, medical,
Merrick viewed as a freak of nature (a mistake according to Darwin’s theories of
evolution)
Bishop How views Merrick as a religious subject - to be observed and analyzed