naturist ethic

Despite current conventional wisdom naturism has and always did have an ethic. Writers like Marc Alain Descamps and others have expressed, shared and codified this ethic.

It is therefore necessary to understand naturism as a new system of production of values

The rehabilitation of the human body

The vital need for close contact with nature

The ability to self-control

The management of looks (the gaze)

Non-discrimination

Naturism as a laboratory of democracy – Marc Alain Descamps

Academic researchers have also pointed out the existence of a naturist ethic which differentiates naturists from other groups that may also embrace nudity.

Naturist nudity is not interpreted through the prism of eroticism by naturists, because it does not have sex as an aim. – Aleksandra Herman

Psychologist Albert Ellis had this perspective on the naturist ethic after his study of naturists.

Social nudism is mainly an outlook on life rather than an instinctive urge. Nudists, on the whole, are distinctly more ethical and social-minded than members of the general populace, and they should not be confused with isolated and invariably severely disturbed individuals who get into trouble with the law for exhibitionistic or voyeuristic acts.” – Albert Ellis psychologist quoted in the movie The Raw Ones

Naturism seemed to have lost connection to its original ethic focused the rehabilitation of the body through health and well being when it crossed the Atlantic. American naturist were less inclined to share healthy communal meals and engage in calisthenics and vigorous exercise. They preferred to spend time lazing about naked in the sun. ¹ This distinction can be seen in description of naturism by a French nudist leader below.

Naturism is not just about” undressing “. It is a true philosophy of life, which passes, among other things, by the practice of nudity … “— Viviane Tiar, president of the French federation of naturism,

In the age of technology the naturist ethic has become even more diluted as the concept of home nudism has emerged disconnecting naturism further from nature. One Canadian naturist leader makes this observation.

A naturist is a nudist, but a nudist may not be a naturist. They may be bar hopping swingers, or an exhibitionist! Naturism happens in Nature – Okanagan Naturist Association

Lee Baxandall founder of Naturist Society and advocate for dnude recreational opportunities defined naturism as much more than naked activities. He saw naturism as a way to addressed some of the things that had gone wrong in modern civilization.

“Naturists seek a remedy …. to civilization that has turned dangerous. Naturism is a civilized characteristic” Lee Baxandall ²

For Baxandall naturism and nude recreation as a part of naturism gave people the opportunity to reconnect with our humanity and restore ourselves by communing with nature. This view was very much in line with the origins of modern naturism and indigenous and cultural naturism practices.

“Naturism is an antidote to urban crowding .. it restores us to ourselves to a human being” -Lee Baxandall ³

References