non-naturalism
LowSpecialized, Academic
Definition
Meaning
A philosophical position that denies ethical or aesthetic values are based solely on natural properties or facts.
In ethics, the view that moral properties (e.g., goodness) are not reducible to or derivable from natural properties (e.g., pleasure, pain, biological facts). In aesthetics, the view that artistic value is not grounded in purely natural features.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used in metaethics and aesthetics. Often contrasted with 'naturalism' (e.g., utilitarianism) and 'supernaturalism' (e.g., divine command theory).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or usage differences.
Connotations
Identical academic/specialized connotation.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both dialects, confined to academic philosophy contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] argues for/defends non-naturalism.[Subject] is a proponent of non-naturalism.The debate between naturalism and non-naturalism.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Primary context. Used in philosophy (ethics, metaethics, aesthetics) papers, lectures, and discussions.
Everyday
Extremely rare; would only appear in very sophisticated conversation.
Technical
Specific technical term in analytic philosophy.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- His non-naturalist stance was clear from the first chapter.
American English
- She presented a non-naturalist argument for objective values.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Moore's philosophy is often described as a form of non-naturalism.
- Contemporary metaethics is largely defined by the protracted debate between naturalists and non-naturalists regarding the ontology of moral facts.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
NON-NATURALism: Think 'NOT from Nature' – it claims moral goodness is NOT just a natural fact like water being wet.
Conceptual Metaphor
VALUES ARE SUPERNATURAL/NON-PHYSICAL ENTITIES (though non-naturalism typically avoids supernatural claims).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'неестественность' (unnaturalness) – that's a different concept. A closer approximation is 'ненатурализм' or the descriptive phrase 'этический ненатурализм'.
- Do not confuse with 'supernaturalism' (сверхъестественность). Non-naturalism is a more specific philosophical category.
Common Mistakes
- Spelling: Incorrect hyphenation (e.g., 'nonnaturalism').
- Confusing it with 'supernaturalism' (which involves gods/ghosts). Non-naturalism is about irreducible, non-natural properties.
- Using it as a general synonym for 'unnatural' behaviour.
Practice
Quiz
Non-naturalism, in metaethics, is primarily opposed to which of the following?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While some religious thinkers are non-naturalists, the position itself only claims moral properties are not natural properties. It does not require a supernatural being.
G.E. Moore (early 20th century) is the most famous, with his 'open-question argument.' Others include W.D. Ross (intuitionism) and some contemporary moral realists like Derek Parfit (in his later work).
The main criticism is the 'queerness' argument: if moral properties are non-natural, how can we have knowledge of them, and how do they causally interact with the natural world? This makes them seem metaphysically and epistemologically mysterious.
Yes. A natural property could be 'causing pleasure,' 'maximising survival,' or 'being approved by society.' A non-naturalist says 'goodness' is not identical to any of these; it's a different kind of property altogether.