>Philosophically, "naturalism" or "meytaphysical naturalism" or "ontological
naturalism" is basically the belief that only nature exists, that there is
nothing beyond nature, no supernatural. (Nothing to do with the environment
or clothing. :^> )
>
>"Methodological naturalism" is an approach to science in which one uses
permits only natural (vs. supernatural) objects and laws to play a role in
one's theories. Metaphysical naturalists see this as the only way to go,
obviously.
The best illustration for me of the meaning of MN came from a debate years
ago at Forest Lawn in LA. betw. Ariel Roth and John Moore (UCR). At the end
of the discussion (which was what it generally could have been termed)
Moore, considering some piece of esoteric data produced by Roth for which he
could think of no suitable MN explanation stated (as best I can recall), "I
don't care if Creation is right, it is not scientific, because it involves
the intervention of a divine Being." The issue for Moore was not what was
correct, but what was MN scientific.
Art
http://chadwicka.swau.edu