Naturalism is a philosophy that believes nature is the ultimate reality and contains the answers to all philosophical problems. It does not believe in supernatural powers. Key aspects of naturalism in education include believing senses are how we gain knowledge, nature alone is reality, and education should follow the natural development of the child through play, freedom, and experience-based learning. The goals of education under naturalism are self-expression, happiness, and adjusting to one's surroundings.

1. Dr. Sunita Arora
Principal
Institute of Teacher’s Education

2. Introduction
 It is a type of philosophy according to which nature is
the ultimate reality.
 Nature is everything, there is nothing beyond it.
 It believes that nature contains all the answer to all
philosophical problems.
 There is nothing beyond nature, behind nature and
other than nature.
 Nature is also termed as materialism
 It doesn't believe in sentimentalism, spiritualism, and
supernatural powers.

3. Followers of naturalism
 Father of naturalism : JJ Rousseau
 Others Followers– Aristotle, Comte, Tagore, Bacon,
Darwin, Huxley, Spencer.
Definiation
 According to Thomas and Lang: “Naturalism is
opposed to idealism, subordinates mind to matter and
holds that ultimate reality is material world, not
spiritual world.”

4. Naturalism in Philosophy
Metaphysics
Epistemology
Axiology

5. Metaphysics
 It deals with reality: According to Naturalism, nature alone
is ultimate reality.
 Everything comes out of nature and becomes one with it.
 There is nothing beyond nature, behind nature and other
than nature.
 Its slogan are ‘Return to Nature’ and ‘break the chains of
society’.
 Naturalists consider material world as the real world.
 Laws of nature are unchangeable and entire universe is
governed by them.
 They do not believe in God, Soul and Divine spirit.

6. Epistemology
 Naturalism believes that we gain knowledge through
senses as senses are gateway of knowledge.
 All the truth can be known through senses.
 Naturalism believes in the direct knowledge of nature.
 It oppose bookish knowledge.
 Naturalist do not believe in spiritual knowledge

7. Axiology
 It deals with values.
 According to naturalism there are no absolute,external
and ultimate values.
 All values resides in nature
 It do not believe in spiritual values.
 To feel the values of nature one has to live in harmony
with nature.
 Slogan of naturalism is ‘To follow nature’.

8. Characteristics of Naturalism
Senses are the
gateway of
knowledge
Material world
is real world.
Supernaturalism
is denied by
naturalism
Laws of nature
are
unchangeable
Science reveals
the mysteries of
nature

9. Principles of naturalism
 Child centered education: Naturalism gives central
position to the child in the educational process. The
child is in the forefront and all other things such as
teacher, curriculum, books are in the background.
 Freedom of the child: We should provide full
freedom for the natural and complete development of
the child. He must learn from his own mistakes.
 It gives emphasis on the training of senses as senses are
the gateway of knowledge

10. Principles
• Instincts as basis for education: Naturalist believe that
it is through education that child’s animal behavior
should be transformed into human behavior.
• Child’s Happiness: Priority should be given to child’s
happiness in the whole education process.
• Negative education: The negative education “consists
not in teaching the principles of virtue but in guiding
the heart against vice and mind against error”
• It is against bookish knowledge and verbalism.

11. Naturalism and Aims of Education
• Self Expression: According to naturalistic school of Philosophy the main
aim of education is Self expression
• Attainment of present and future happiness: According to Herbert Spencer education
aims at achieving the present and future happiness of child.
• Struggle for existence: Darwin states that education must train the individual to struggle
successfully for his own survival
• Self Preservation: According to Spencer, self-preservation and self-satisfaction
constitute the highest good in life and, hence, the natural instincts should be used in
such a way that this highest good can be achieved.
•Economic Efficiency: Naturalism believes that education should be geared to the
fulfillment of economic needs of the child.
•Sublimation of Instincts: Education should aim at the redirection and sublimation
of child’s instincts.
•To develop individuality: Nunn prefers to use education as a means of making the
individual capable of developing his own individuality.
•Adjustment with surrounding: Education should enable an individual to live in harmony
with his surroundings.
•Utilization of Leisure time: It occupies an important place in the scheme of education.
As such happiness of leisure should be the lasting experience.
•Education according to the nature of the child: Education should be according to the
nature of child.

12. Naturalism and Curriculum
• Naturalistic curriculum is based on the interest and
psychology of child. Education should be given according to
inborn instincts of the child.
• Curriculum should lay emphasis on present life but study of past
experience should be given due importance in the curriculum.
• Curriculum should include various activities and skills for self
preservation and expression.
• In naturalistic curriculum no place is given to traditional
subjects and religious education.
• Curriculum is divided in two stages
• I. Earlier stage : Sensory training
• II. Later stage : Subjects are include in the curriculum through
activities and occupations like physical sciences, language,
mathematics, manual work, trade, moral education, etc.

13. Naturalism and Teaching Methods
 Learning by doing
 Learning through direct experiences
 Education through senses
 Play way method
 Activity method
 Freedom to the child
 Observation
 Montessori, Kindergarten methods
 Self efforts, Co-Education

14. Naturalism and Discipline
 They want to give full freedom to the child.
 Nature by itself is a teacher that gives lesson of
discipline to man. If the child makes a mistake he will
get punishment from nature itself.
 No physical punishment
 Full freedom to child
 Free society

15. Naturalism and Teacher
 “Let Nature be your teacher”- William Words Worth
 Teacher as a Protector
 Teacher as a Stage Setter
 Teacher as observer
 Teacher’s role is secondary according to Naturalism
 Teacher as a gardener.

16. Naturalism and School
 The school environment should be completely free
and flexible.
 It should be in the lap of nature.
 No fix time-table
 No boundation of examination
 No provision for punishment
 It should be helpful for the free and natural
development of the child

17. Contribution of Naturalism
 Child centered education
 Psychological and progressive methods of teaching
 Freedom to child
 Experience centered curriculum
 Broad based curriculum
 Scientific study
 Instincts, impulses and emotions should form the
basis of all education of the child

18. Limitations(demerits)of Naturalism
 Naturalism ignores the spiritual world and considers the
material world.
 No place to religious education
 Unrestricted freedom to child
 Too much emphasis on present
 Against bookish knowledge
 Failed to prepare the child for the future life child
 Minimize the role of teacher
 Unappealing principle of ‘Discipline by natural
consequences’
 A teacher is an observer, a sympathetic guide and helper in
structuring experiences for the child

19. Relevance of naturalism in 21st
century
 It has shifted the subject-centered curriculum to an
experience centered curriculum.
 It has given birth to the modern methods of teaching.
 It has emphasized child-centered educational process.
 Senses are the gateways of knowledge. Education is
very much effective when it comes through sensory
channels.