Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun One versed in natural history, especially in zoology or botany.
- noun One who believes in and follows the tenets of naturalism.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun One who understands natural causes; one who is versed in natural science or philosophy; specifically, one who is versed in or devoted to natural history; in the most restricted sense, a zoölogist or botanist.
- noun One who holds the theological theory or doctrine of naturalism.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun One versed in natural science; a student of natural history, esp. of the natural history of plants or animals; a botanist or zoologist.
- noun One who holds or maintains the doctrine of naturalism in religion.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun dated A person committed to studying
nature ornatural history . - noun philosophy A person who
believes in oradvocates the tenets ofphilosophical ormethodological naturalism .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun an advocate of the doctrine that the world can be understood in scientific terms
- noun a biologist knowledgeable about natural history (especially botany and zoology)
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word naturalist.
Examples
-
I also think his work as a naturalist is very important, and this was a point I wanted to stress in Originthe absolutely critical urgency of respecting and caring for our planet.
Diana Abu-Jaber discusses her true identity with Origin 2010
-
Join naturalist Casey Pittrizzi to search for migratory birds that might be stopping by Meadowlark Gardens during migration season.
Green Scene: The bounty of fall includes tours, lectures and workshops Joel M. Lerner 2010
-
The statement does not say the naturalist is only capable of being justified in making inductions if the naturalist believes that theism is true, since that's a logically incoherent notion.
-
But the language of a naturalist is quite unique in regard to what he or she thinks is natural and what is not.
-
He was what philosophers call a naturalist, believing -- as did his acknowledged master, Spinoza -- that there is no distinction to be made between God and Nature and that perfection and reality are two names for the same thing.
The Life of a Mind Robert D. Richardson 2008
-
French, as in English, naturalist means, of course, sim - ply student of nature, and the analogy between the writer and the naturalist, specifically the botanist and zoologist, was ready at hand.
REALISM IN LITERATURE REN 1968
-
Natural history must indeed be a godlike pursuit, if such a man as this can so adore it, people said; and the very definition and meaning of the word naturalist underwent a favorable alteration in the common mind.
Memories and Studies William James 1876
-
11 Arabia, in the opinion of the naturalist, is the genuine and original country of the horse; the climate most propitious, not indeed to the size, but to the spirit and swiftness, of that generous animal.
The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire 1206
-
He preferred to be called a naturalist or realist, and these terms fit him equally well.
IMPRESSIONISM IN ART THOMAS MUNRO 1968
-
A great help to the naturalist is a collection of pictures such as appear from time to time in periodicals.
Home Taxidermy for Pleasure and Profit A Guide for Those Who Wish to Prepare and Mount Animals, Birds, Fish, Reptiles, etc., for Home, Den, or Office Decoration Albert B. Farnham
oroboros commented on the word naturalist
In the ongoing resurgence of atheistic thinking, the term naturalist has taken on a nuanced and politicized meeting.
Spokesatheist Richard Dawkins, in his book The God Delusion, recognizes that the term "atheist" has a negative definition, i.e. a person who does not believe in god, and that a negative definition unnecessarily frames atheists at the margin rather than at the center of the discussion. Additionally, this particular term has a negative semantic orientation among moderate, influenceable Americans.
Instead, he has proposed the adoption of the alternate terms "naturalist" and "supernaturalist." This frames atheism with a positive definition and at the center, i.e. a person who believes in the natural world, with all of the positive associations of the word "natural." This consequently frames believers at the margin, de-privileging the concepts of gods, angels, and devils, by underscoring the salient similarity between them and the concepts of ghosts, psychics, and the X-Files.
--From Tato at Everything2.com
August 22, 2007
uselessness commented on the word naturalist
Everything is spin. Mr. Dawkins can relabel himself however he wants, but it's fairly despicable to intentionally slight religious groups by trying to relabel them. It's like "pro-life/pro-death" vs. "pro-choice/anti-choice," which is a pretty stupid battle of rhetoric in itself. Though the word naturalist is a good one, Dawkins is a jerk for foisting the purposely negative supernaturalist on his "rivals."
August 22, 2007
reesetee commented on the word naturalist
Maybe he needs to choose a different word, though. In my view, "naturalist" already has quite a good definition, and while it may intersect that of Dawkins' in some ways, it certainly isn't the same definition as the one he proposes. Presently the word refers to someone who studies nature and natural history (or teaches them), not one who "believes" in it. Awfully confusing, in my opinion.
And does he mean to suggest that all atheists necessarily believe in the natural world and vice versa? Is that really the case? (This isn't necessarily a rhetorical question--I'm not at all sure about this, not being well-versed in the subject.)
August 22, 2007
uselessness commented on the word naturalist
I think that's the definition of atheism. Anything veering away from a strictly natural belief system enters the territory of theism, or at least agnosticism.
August 22, 2007
uselessness commented on the word naturalist
Oh, and I've heard "Dawkins' definition" of naturalism since way before Dawkins claimed it, I think.
August 22, 2007
reesetee commented on the word naturalist
Don't know, uselessness. I get all of that, but I've always thought that this "natural" vs. "spiritual" dichotomy is far too clean to help us make sense of the muddiness we live with. I know a self-proclaimed atheist, for example, who couldn't care less about the natural world. Where would he fall in this argument? I'm almost certain he wouldn't describe himself as a naturalist.
I suppose I should ask him directly, but he's not available at the moment. ;-)
August 22, 2007
uselessness commented on the word naturalist
So your friend doesn't believe in God... but does believe in supernatural occurrences? Like ghosts and stuff? I guess that could be defined as atheism, perhaps, but it would seem a person in that position might want to do some more evaluating of how s/he really believes and chooses to be identified. And then there are the apatheists, who are in a whole other boat altogether. I'd say the label "atheist" is only for people who are decided on the matter, not for people who aren't sure or don't care.
August 22, 2007
reesetee commented on the word naturalist
I have to agree with you--in fact, maybe this is *his* problem, not ours. :-) I only know what he's told me. I've always suspected he uses the description "atheist" almost literally--as in, not believing in a god but not necessarily believing in anything else. Which brings us back to square one here, I suppose.
August 22, 2007
oroboros commented on the word naturalist
Be interesting to get his views on nihilism or anarchism do you think?
August 22, 2007
reesetee commented on the word naturalist
Sure would--but I'd have to catch him on a good day. He can be a tad ornery. ;-)
August 22, 2007
uselessness commented on the word naturalist
It's certainly fun to be your own group. I, for example, have yet to meet another emergent existentialist Christian libertarian. But maybe I'm just being too specific. ;-)
August 22, 2007
reesetee commented on the word naturalist
Wow. You really need t-shirts for your group. :-)
So you are a Kierkegaard fan, I presume? Or no?
August 22, 2007
uselessness commented on the word naturalist
I am. Reading through Works of Love at the moment, actually. Well not *right* now, I'm at work. ;-)
August 22, 2007
oroboros commented on the word naturalist
You mean "at Wordie" right?
August 22, 2007
uselessness commented on the word naturalist
Shhh! Don't tell the bossman!
August 22, 2007
oroboros commented on the word naturalist
My lips is sealed! *zzzzziiiiiippppp*
August 22, 2007
reesetee commented on the word naturalist
Work, Wordie--same thing. I mean, I am in the words business, so I figure it counts for something. ;->
Maybe I'll get back to Kierkegaard myself. Haven't read him since college....
August 22, 2007
uselessness commented on the word naturalist
I love philosophy, but I admit that reading it is often frustrating because it's so thick and pretentious. One of these days, when I have more lots and lots of free time, I'd like to translate/paraphrase the major philosophers into modern language ordinary people can understand. And I'll start with Kierkegaard. :-)
I also want to write my own easy-to-read philosophy books so I don't have to be the only person in this group any more. :-P
August 22, 2007
oroboros commented on the word naturalist
Bertrand Russell ("A History of Western Philosophy") and Will Durant ("The Story of Philosophy") do a pretty good job of that, although modern philosophers like Kierkegaard, Heidegger, Tillich and the like aren't included because of the publication dates of those works. Anyway, recommended. And good luck on the philosophy exegesis project!
August 22, 2007
uselessness commented on the word naturalist
Thanks for the tips, I'll check 'em out!
August 22, 2007
reesetee commented on the word naturalist
I agree with oroboros--good recommendations! I've already added your proposed book(s) to my reading list (as "Uselessness' Field Guide to Philosophy"). :-)
Philosophy can be hard to slog through. I like to alternate any difficult nonfiction I may want to read with a few juicy novels, just to keep things balanced.
August 22, 2007