The Naturalistic Fallacy
🧠Psych - 222/300
Hello Reader,
We are in July already. Time is flying by. Are you doing something about it except learning psychology? I would love to know.
For today, let’s learn The Naturalistic Fallacy.
The naturalistic fallacy is a logical error that occurs when someone assumes that what is natural is inherently good or morally right, and what is unnatural is inherently bad or morally wrong. It is the mistake of deriving ethical conclusions from descriptive statements about the way things are in nature.
For example, committing the naturalistic fallacy would be telling that it is morally wrong for humans to use technology because it is unnatural, while considering living in caves as morally superior because it aligns with a more "natural" way of life.
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What do I need to know?
Two takeaways from the naturalistic fallacy are:
Recognize the distinction between "is" and "ought": Just because something exists or occurs naturally in the world doesn't mean it is morally right or wrong. It is important to separate descriptive statements about what is natural from prescriptive statements about what should be considered good or bad.
Evaluate actions and values based on their consequences and ethical principles: Instead of relying solely on the concept of what is natural, consider the actual outcomes and impact of actions and decisions. Focus on ethical principles such as fairness, well-being, and justice when evaluating the moral value of something, rather than relying solely on whether it aligns with what is found in nature.