Naturalism

I consider myself to be a naturalist, meaning that I have a commitment to methodological naturalism (i.e. scientific method) as the most reliable ways to understand Nature. However, I also have a metaphysical commitment to metaphysical naturalism, which is what I want to expound on. I do not intend to develop an argument, perhaps I will develop arguments for metaphysical naturalism in another blog post. Here are the characteristics of my stance of metaphysical naturalism:

1. Substantive Monism- There is only one reality that exists, this is the natural reality or Nature. However, Nature is also a Substance in the philosophical sense. Substance in philosophy means many things, I am using Spinoza's idea of Substance to describe how Nature is a substance:
• Underlying basis- Locke use the term "Substance" to denote the Latin meaning of some underlying basis that supports things to exist. In other words, substance is what is the basis of things that depend on it to exist as states. For example, the brain is a substance in which  mental experiences are the states of (supposing that property dualism is true) or smile is the state of the face. Nature is a substance in this sense in so far as it is the basis for all things that exist in Nature, all things that exist in Nature depend on it as states of Nature. 
• Independent existence: something which is not contingent or dependent on something else to explain it's existence. Nature does not depend on anything outside of it to exist, it exists independently. 
• Nature vs. Universe: It is unusual to make a distinction between Nature and Universe, since we identify Nature with the Universe (vice versa). However, I think I am going along with Spinoza's distinction between Natura Naturans and Natura Naturata. I believe that Nature is essentially Natura Naturans which is the underlying reality that is self-generating and manifesting itself as the physical and natural universe. The natural universe is Natura Naturata that is the manifestation of the essential structure, order, and principles of Nature. 
2. (Ontological) Holism: Anything that is a part of Nature is not merely part of Nature but part of a System, which means it is related to all other parts. The parts in Nature are interrelated to each other, they could be understood holistically (and sometimes by reduction) in relation to each other. Everything that exist in Nature, are interdependent on each other to exist. 
3. Immanence- There is nothing beyond Nature, thus there is nothing to look for beyond it. It is only this reality right here that exists, this is all that matters. 
4. Naturalistic Spirituality- I think there is such thing as naturalistic spirituality. For me, naturalistic spirituality simply has the following quality:  
• Oneness- Oneness is tricky, because it has been associated with being identical with Nature. However, this is obviously not true, given that things are individuated as distinct beings with apparently distinct identities. However, there is another way to talk about being "one with Nature". The better word is inseparability, which means recognizing that your existence is inseparable from that of Nature because you are a finite "state" of Nature, your finite existence depends on Nature. 
• Connection: Since one is inseparable from Nature and Nature is ontologically holistic, one is connected to Nature and everything in it. 
• Absorption: This is experiencing oneself as immersed into Nature, realizing that one is absolutely dependent on Nature to exist and sustain oneself. 
• Tranquility: Peace of mind, I believe, is found within a kind of liberation from the fear of death, anxiety, and negative emotional suffering. Such liberation, however, involves mitigating suffering rather than eliminating it since suffering is part of the human condition. What mitigates suffering is to understand that because one is inseparable from the holistic Nature, it follows that one is going to be effected by things in Nature, one's existence (and condition of that existence) is transitory since everything in Nature is simply a state of it. 
5. Naturalistic ethics: Ethics in Nature is simply another form of ecosystem (see Owen Flanegen), since the condition of human existence is that people are social creatures who are interdependent on each other. Each individual has basic capabilities and needs that is to be considered to have a healthy society. 

I admit that my Naturalistic World-view is heavily influenced by Spinoza, who himself was a kind of naturalist. Spinoza inspired me to develop a naturalistic world-view that is similar to his, so I do not claim that my world-view is original. This is simply a sketch of my world-view, I am working on articulating it further.