Does Science Presume Naturalism?

[JohnCrichton72]

Yes, science proceeds on the basis of methodological naturalism, precisely because the focus of its study is the natural world. This is as it should be. The problem is when some people, like Mr. Crichton, confuse this with ontological naturalism, i.e. "the philosophical belief...". Ontological naturalism is not a scientific position.

Quite right, apologies.

Curious mind;

Would you not first have to hypothesise to derive the methodology, which would imply a philosophical beginning to all scientific enquiry?

If so;

Methodological naturalism is just applying a working theory to ontological naturalism, as to discern it's validity. I don't see how, if this is the case, ontological naturalism is any less scientific.