Don't Be Fooled by Nature: Recognizing the Naturalistic Fallacy

Nature is the source of life, and what's more fundamental than value things that are natural? The naturalistic fallacy is a logical fallacy that occurs when someone assumes that something is good or right simply because it's natural (or deliberately implying as natural). In other words, it confuses what is with what ought to be (the is/ought problem). This philosophical concept highlights the difficulty of deriving moral principles (what ought to be done) from factual observations (what is).

Here's a common examples: "Sugar is natural, so artificial sweeteners must be bad for you." This statement appeals to the naturalness of sugar to imply that artificial sweeteners are somehow inferior. But just because something is found in nature doesn't automatically make it good. Poisonous mushrooms are perfectly natural, but you wouldn't want to eat them.

"Humans are naturally meat-eaters, so veganism is unnatural."

"Pain is a natural consequence of childbirth, so women shouldn't use pain medication during labor."

"Competition is a natural part of life, so cooperation is weak."

They may include not-natural things that are delivered as natural. These statements all use the naturalness of something to justify a particular course of action, but they don't necessarily consider the ethical implications, or all the relevant factors involved.

So, how can we avoid the naturalistic fallacy?

• Question the Link: When you hear someone say something is good because it's natural, ask yourself: Is there a clear connection between the naturalness of something and its goodness?

• Consider the Alternatives: Are there unnatural things that can be good? Are there natural things that can be bad?

• Think About Values: Don't just rely on nature as your guide. What values do we hold as a society? How do these values influence what we consider good or right?
  

By being aware of the naturalistic fallacy, we can make more thoughtful and nuanced judgments about the world around us. Sometimes, the best solutions come from our own creativity and reason.