Which of the following is/are elements of Naturalism:

Question

A. A belief in a deterministic universe. B. A reaction against Romanticism. C. A belief in a humanistic universe driven by our free will D. An interest in the the study of Darwin (natural selection) and Freud (psychology)

A and B only

A, B, and D only

A and D only

All of the above

Answer 1

Naturalism, as a philosophy, was the idea that events and changes in the universe occurred strictly as a result of its natural properties. Therefore, this philosophy was highly skeptical towards the spiritual, the supernatural and even towards the idea of free will.

Now, as a literary movement, naturalism was a major reaction towards a long period of romanticism. Romanticism centered itself entirely around the human experience, human emotions and how things were linked to human beings. Naturalism as a style was far more detached from humanity and instead considered the universe, the natural world and basically everything around humans instead of humans themselves. The answer would be A and B only.