Naturalistic

Naturalistic is an adjective derived from naturalism, used to describe approaches, representations, or explanations that rely on natural causes and regularities rather than supernatural ones. In philosophy and science, naturalistic methods seek to account for phenomena through empirical evidence, testable theories, and natural laws. The term also denotes a broader stance that reality can be understood through observation and inquiry grounded in the natural world.

In literature and the arts, naturalism (often described as naturalistic) refers to a movement or style that aims to depict subjects with objective accuracy and without authorial sentiment. Naturalistic works emphasize everyday life, social conditions, heredity, and environment as determinants of human behavior. It evolved in the late 19th century in Europe and the United States, with writers such as Émile Zola championing the belief that art should reproduce life as it is, often focusing on the lower classes and the forces shaping their lives.

In science and research, naturalistic methods include observation and study of phenomena in natural settings rather than controlled laboratories. Methodological naturalism treats scientific inquiry as limited to natural causes and explanations. This stance distinguishes science from supernatural accounts by requiring that hypotheses be testable and falsifiable within a naturalistic framework.

Naturalistic can also describe aesthetics, design, or interpretation that favors faithful representation of the natural world, whether in photography, film, or visual arts. The term is sometimes contrasted with supernaturalism, spiritualism, or fantastical or idealized rendering.