Metaphysical naturalism
Metaphysical naturalism is the view that reality consists only of natural entities and processes, with no supernatural beings or forces.
Nature: The totality of the physical world and its processes, often contrasted with the supernatural. Naturalism treats nature as all that exists, not merely one part of reality.
Theism: Belief in the existence of at least one deity. Theism posits a supernatural reality that metaphysical naturalism rejects.
Scientific method: A systematic approach to investigating questions through observation, hypothesis, testing, and revision. Its methods exemplify how natural explanations are developed and assessed.
W. V. O. Quine: An American philosopher whose work connected naturalism with the continuity between philosophy and empirical science. Quine argued that philosophy should operate within the scientific account of the world.
Consciousness: The state of being aware, including subjective experience and access to mental contents. Explaining subjective experience within a wholly natural reality remains a central challenge.
Supernatural: Entities, forces, or events understood as existing beyond or outside the natural world. Naturalism denies that supernatural entities or forces exist.
Deism: Belief in a creator who does not intervene in the world after its creation. Deism differs from naturalism by affirming a supernatural creator.
Empiricism: The view that experience is a principal source of knowledge. Empirical evidence supports naturalist accounts, though naturalism is not identical to empiricism.
David Papineau: A British philosopher known for work on physicalism, naturalism, and philosophy of mind. Papineau has defended naturalist approaches to mind and metaphysics.
The hard problem of consciousness: The question of why and how physical processes are accompanied by subjective experience. It tests whether natural explanations can account for experience itself, not only its functions.