NATURALISM

EPISTEMOLOGY
 What is knowledge according to naturalism?

• A naturalistic approach to knowledge is one according

to which knowledge is a natural phenomenon, in
particular, a natural process continuous with the
biological process by which life is sustained and
evolved. For, knowledge has a vital role, in the sense
that life exists only insofar as there is knowledge.
 Naturalistic epistemology
 is an approach to the is a collection of
theory of knowledge philosophic views
that emphasizes the concerned with the
application of theory of knowledge
methods, results, and that emphasize the
theories from the role of natural
empirical sciences. scientific methods.

https://iep.utm.edu/nat-epis/#:~:text=Naturalistic%20epistemology%20is%20an%20approach,theories%20from%20the%20empirical%20sciences.
 WHAT IS AN EMPIRICAL SCIENCE?
• originating in or based on observation or
experience- empirical data
• relying on experience or observation alone often without due
regard for system and theory -an empirical basis for the
theory.
• capable of being verified or disproved by observation or
experiment- empirical laws.
 Some examples of empirical sciences:
natural sciences and human/social science
1. Chemistry. It is the science in charge of the study of the laws that govern
matter and the relationships between its particles (atoms and molecules),
as well as the mixing and transformation phenomena to which they are
susceptible. It is also a natural science.
2. Geography. Social science in charge of the description and graphic
representation of the surface of our planet, including the seas and oceans
and the different territories, reliefs, regions and even societies that
constitute it.
 Some examples of empirical sciences:
natural sciences and human/social science
3. Economy. It deals with the study of resources, the creation of wealth and the distribution and
consumption of goods and services, in order to satisfy the needs of the human race. It is also a
social science.
4. Physical. Understood as the description of the forces that act in the real world from applied
mathematical models, to formulate laws that describe and predict them. It is a natural science.
5. Biology. The so-called science of life, since it is interested in the origin of living beings and their
various processes of development, evolution and reproduction. It’s a natural science, of course.
6. Physical Chemistry, Geology, Medicine, Biochemistry, Astronomy, Oceanography,
Nanoscience, Anthropology, Sociology, Psychology, History, Linguistic, Library Science,
Criminology
 Empirical Data:

• is discovered through the process of experimenting

and observing through methods that can be
measured or categorized. The word empirical traces
back to the Greek word empeirikos which means
experienced. Theories are always great, but
experiencing something is a lot more helpful. This
empirical data is extremely important in scientific
experiments. This is a major focus for the scientific
method.
 Empirical Data:

• Everyday people make decisions based on knowledge gained

that is based on observations. It is cold outside, traffic is busy
in the morning, and we are hungry. Empirical data is derived
from these simple observations. Data is information
gathered from these observations. We can observe with all
five senses: sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. These
observations are used to collect empirical evidence. The
observations mentioned earlier allow us to make the
decisions to wear a jacket, leave earlier, and to eat breakfast.
 Example of an Empirical Data

• They come up with a shampoo formula they think will

be an effective dandruff treatment. The researchers
then test the shampoo on people with dandruff and
find that it cures dandruff in 95 out of 100 people it is
tested on within two weeks of use. The information
found through research is the empirical data.
 WHAT IS SCIENTIFIC METHOD?

• principles and procedures for the

systematic pursuit of knowledge involving
the recognition and formulation of a
problem, the collection of data through
observation and experiment, and the
formulation and testing of hypotheses
 NATURALIZED EPISTEMOLOGY
• Naturalized epistemology sees human •For the naturalist, the question that
cognitive capacities as an aspect of the drives epistemology is an empirical
natural world. question: "how is human knowledge
• Naturalism takes for granted that possible?"
human beings have some knowledge-- •Like any other empirical questions, the
the evidence for this is our ability to questions of epistemology are, therefore,
successfully plan and carry out actions open to scientific investigation
in our everyday physical and social
environments.
Naturalized epistemology -

• tries to understand how human beings form the beliefs

they do in the sorts of circumstances humans are likely
to encounter. Naturalism's results will hence
be empirical and contingent truths--they might have
been otherwise than what they are.
 The aims of naturalized epistemology are:
1. to investigate and develop a 2. with this information,
(hopefully) continually improving
determine how to improve
picture of the strengths and
human cognitive performance;
weaknesses of human cognitive
capacities, using results from the
i.e., determine how humans
cognitive, physical, and biological might go about gaining more
sciences; and knowledge.
Naturalism studies the actual phenomenon of
knowledge aquisition by natural human beings,
employing methods that have proved successful for
learning in everyday life and science. This
approach, naturalists argue, will be more
successful that traditional epistemology in meeting
the basic goals of traditional epistemology:
What is "justified" or "good" is not
absolute (categorical), but good for
some purpose. Our cognitive
capacities have been honed (by
evolution and environmental factors) to
be "good" for the environments in which
we evolved and in which we interact on
a daily basis.
 What Is a Naturalistic Learner?

LEARNING STYLE VS MULTIPLE

INTELLIGENCE
A learning style refers to refers to a theory
an individual's approach describing the
to learning based on different ways
three things: their
strengths, weaknesses,
students learn and
and preferences. acquire information.
 What Is a Naturalistic Learner?

LEARNING STYLES VS. MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCE

Gardner staunchly advocates, multiple

intelligences are NOT learning styles,
but rather a model of human
intelligences that work together.
 MULTIPLE
INTELLIGENCE
• Gardner defined seven types of
intelligence: linguistic, musical, logical-
mathematical, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic,
interpersonal and intrapersonal. In our
daily lives, according to Gardner, we need
to make use of different types of
intelligence. The more intelligences a
person develops in depth, the greater their
chances of prospering. This is why, 12
years after the publication of his master
work, Gardner added an eighth type of
intelligence: naturalistic intelligence.

https://www.iberdrola.com/talent/naturalistic-intelligence
NATURALISTIC LEARNERS

A naturalistic learner is one who is able

to make unique distinctions in the natural
world.
 NATURALISTIC LEARNERS
For example, a naturalistic learner can easily distinguish
between one plant and another or recognize similarities and
differences in cloud formations
NATURALISTIC LEARNERS

Naturalistic learners are instinctively

interested in and aware of their
surroundings
 NATURALISTIC LEARNERS
They thrive by nurturing and exploring their environment. Seasons,
temperature, color, vegetation, and habitation affect the senses and
information is stored for later evaluation and categorization.
NATURALISTIC LEARNERS

They are nature smart!

 NATURALISTIC LEARNERS
They have the ability to know about and relate well to one's natural
surroundings. This includes having a greater sensitivity to nature
and one's place within it, being able to nurture and grow things, and
easily caring for and interacting with animals.
 Agriculturalist
 Plantito/Plantita
 NATURALISTIC LEARNERS

They enjoy opportunities to learn about

living things, like plants, animals, and
other biology-related subjects, and
natural events, such as weather or
geology.
 NATURALISTIC LEARNERS

They learn very easily outdoors and are

drawn to working with nature

https://sudaharmstrong.s3.amazonaws.com/naturalistic-learning-style.html
 NATURALISTIC LEARNERS

Many naturalistic students do extremely

well in science and are often aware of,
and are active members on, issues related
to the environment
 NATURALISTIC LEARNERS
Activities for naturalistic learners:
Go on Nature walks
Start a garden and take care of the plants
Keep a plant/animal journal
Watch nature documentaries
 NATURALISTIC LEARNERS
Activities for naturalistic learners:
Play with “nature’s toys”
Take care of pets
Observe nature with a scientific tool
Visit an aquarium/terrarium
 NATURALISTIC LEARNERS
Activities for naturalistic learners:
Make a herbarium
Volunteer at your local animal shelters
Make a bird feeder
Visit a conservation park
 NATURALISTIC LEARNERS
Activities for naturalistic learners:
Write an essay on a burning nature topic
Go camping
Visit a local farm
Read books and encyclopedias about nature
 NATURALISTIC LEARNERS
Activities for naturalistic learners:
Recycle
Collect unusual natural objects (feathers, rocks,
leaves etc)
Make a terrarium
Have a picnic outside
 FILIPINO (Grade 6) – Bumuo ng isang maikling kwento na
naglalarawan sa iyong alagang hayop (aso, pusa, ibon, etc..)

 ARALING PANLIPUNAN (Grade 4) – Gumawa ng Diorama ng anyong

lupa o tubig)

 ENGLISH (Grade 1) – Identifying sounds of different animals ;

picture dictionary

 MATH (Pre-schoolers) – Outdoor Math Activities on simple counting,

and arithmetic

 SCIENCE (ALL levels) – investigation and exploration though

experiments- using five senses.
How is naturalized epistemology different from other epistemological theories?

• Traditional epistemology is engaged in the analysis of

the concepts of knowledge and justification (i. e., the JTB view of
knowledge). The conceptual analysis of knowledge as practiced by
traditional epistemology is an a priori enterprise which seeks
necessary and sufficient conditions which define whether any
proposed belief is "justified." The results of this conceptual
analysis of knowledge implies that:
cont…
a) the conceptual analysis of b) no set of empirical facts about
knowledge (if found) should be true of particular believers or particular
any sort of epistemic subject in any situations could count as evidence
sort of circumstances; in other words, against a traditional
the conclusions of epistemology were epistemological theory because
conceived of as universal and such theories were not thought of
necessary requirements for certifying as scientific or empirical theories
any claim as genuine "knowledge.". about natural beings, human
cognitive subjects.
To give useful epistemic advice, we need
information about
1. how human beings actually form their
beliefs;
2. what kinds of errors human beings are
most liable to make; and
3. what limitations there are to human
psychological processes.
The advice that results from this information
will not always be what a priori ideals would
dictate.
The a posteriori methods of science tell us
not only what human beings are capable of,
but the correct rules of epistemic justification
as well. We have the cognitive abilities we do
because they help us to deal effectively with
the world in which we live. To understand
how human beings come to have knowledge,
we need to understand not only how human cognitive abilities
often and non-accidentally accord with facts about the external
world, but when they don't, why they don’t.

It is not always going to be the case that when human cognitive

capacities do not agree with a priori ideals it's because human
beings are irrational; in some cases, the a priori rules
themselves must be discarded. Human cognitive capacities
must be judged relative to our other ends as well.
 Qualitative (naturalist) basic belief
• Basic beliefs about .. Naturalist
Paradigm :
-the nature of reality .. -Realities
are multiple,
constructed, and holistic.

-the role of values -

Inquiry is value-bound.

-the relationship of the knower -Knower and

known are http://helianth.de/pdf/BergerNatapp.pdf