Key Terms in Evolutionary Biology of Sex, Gender, and Sexuality: Naturalism

Naturalism is the idea that all truth is to be found in nature and that all basic truths are to be found in nature. In shorter terms, all aspects of life, including human nature can be explained through nature. Under naturalism, nature best explains human nature. Because of this, there is no true separation between man and nature. However, there are several controversies that arise from this aspect, especially regarding the nature of sex in humans. In the book How the Mind Works within chapter 6, Steven Pinker quotes, "The human mating system is not like any other animals. But that does not mean it escapes the laws governing mating systems, which have been documented in hundreds of species." What this essential means is that despite what we we believe makes us unique in terms of reproduction, we are ultimately very similar to other species. As with other species, our ultimate goal in reproduction is to produce more offspring. We, also like other species, tend to follow rules of attraction that are unique, just like how some other species have their own rules of attraction.

The idea that nature can explain our own behavior comes from observations between us and other species. This idea was looked at when comparing aggression in nonhuman animals. According to Simmons 1989, two conclusions that were made were that the ultimate intraspecific cause very aggression is competition over resources and that aggression is a number one cause of mortality. When we look at the disasters of humanity, they are all caused by some sort of aggression. For example, people who do not have a great access to a resource, whether it be food or money, may become aggressive in order to achieve it. Since they are low on resources, they have no choice but to act aggressively in order to get it. It seems that these behaviors in people parallel those found in other animal species. Aggression is also a true killer of humans. In nature, an aggressive animal will not hesitate to destroy its opponent even if it means that they must kill them. This can be seen in lions, in which a male who has just come into power to a pride will kill his predecessors offspring. The offspring pose a threat as they carry the genes of the rival male and the male lion will not tolerate genes being presented in kin that do not belong to him.

Many claims that are made in the name of naturalism are rather controversial. The first reason why it can be controversial is because there is the possibility that naturalism can be used to explain crimes such as rape as being natural. What we consider rape is not necessarily unique to humans. Unmated male ducks can forcibly rape female ducks which they have no bond. Sometimes they even killing their victim. This sort of behavior, while not accepted in human society, still exists. If rape is seen as just being natural, then there would be no reason to prevent or try to help the victim. Because of this, naturalism is a victim of being able to adopted by those with negative ideologies. The second part of controversy that arises for naturalism is due to the fact that it never includes the supernatural or religious. People who seem to find their answers in the supernatural generally will not be naturalistic. Within its definition described earlier, naturalism is often the standard philosophy in science.

Naturalism, despite being at risk of these risks of these controversial claims, is not inherently evil. The view of naturalism has given rise to several social movements and philosophies. One of these is ecological ethicism. Examples of ecological ethicism include the animal rights movements and ecofeminism. If used to just justify scientific ideas and not the horrors of human society, naturalism can be used for the good, for example in a need to better explain a medical condition and therefore find a cure for it. Naturalistic claims are those which seek to explain nature in its most realistic terms. Our current thoughts of biology and in term our current thoughts and practices of medicine are the result of naturalism. Naturalism seeks to find the best explanation, so this involves further investigation. The more investigation and naturally honest explanations there are, the better the science. This leads to a better understanding of potential cures for diseases or solutions to complex problems. Using naturalism, science expects to explain the way the world works in the most honest of answers. Naturalism is an attempt to explain how the world works in which it most correlates with the natural world. This, in turn can be used to better understand our own biology.

References

1: Pg. 161. Barbara Hernstein Smith. Scandalous Knowledge: Science, Truth and the Human. Chapter 7: Animal Relatives: Different Relations. 2006. Duke University Press. Durham, NC

2: Pg. 144. Symons, Donald. The Evolution of Human Sexuality. Chapter 5: Human Sexuality. 1979. Oxford University Press. New York, NY.

3: pg. 53-54. Barash, David. The Whispering Within. Chapter 3: Sexism: Strategies of Reproduction or When is Beeswax like a Ferrari. 1981. Penguin Books.

4: Pg. 163. Barbara Hernstein Smith. Scandalous Knowledge: Science, Truth and the Human. Chapter 7: Animal Relatives: Different Relations. 2006. Duke University Press. Durham NC