Impact of Naturalism

Naturalism changed the way in which the human condition was understood in and by Western culture. Today, we in the West think like Naturalists (some of the time).

There is no reason to think that Naturalism's influence has subsequently been restricted to Western culture.

One way to grasp the difference Naturalism made is to examine historically either its decisive intervention in specific, long-standing political, social, moral, and aesthetic debates, or the shape it gave to emergent institutions and cultural practices.

The essays below are by David Trotter (wdt21@cam.ac.uk). Each provides a brief historical account of one of the differences Naturalism has made to Western culture's understanding of the human condition.

Female Toilette

Hollywood Naturalism