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The Emptiness of Naturalism

Joint Winner of the Philosophy Essay Prize Competition 2023

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 March 2025

Thomas Raleigh
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Abstract

I argue that the term ‘naturalism’ is so empty of meaning that it is not suitable for serious theorizing in philosophy. In particular, I argue that the question of whether or not some theory or thesis should count as naturalistic is an empty verbal dispute with no further theoretical significance. I also discuss naturalism construed as a methodological thesis and argue that any plausible version will collapse into triviality. Lastly, I briefly discuss the idea that naturalism is not a thesis at all but rather a ‘stance’ and suggest that this too succumbs to the charge of emptiness. I conclude that we should stop talking about naturalism altogether.

Type
Research Article
Information
Philosophy , Volume 99 , Issue 4 , October 2024 , pp. 597 - 623
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Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Royal Institute of Philosophy

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