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Naturalistic
Category: Fallacy
What is it?
This fallacy is the belief that what is 'natural' is inherently good or right, and what is 'unnatural' is bad or wrong. It confuses 'is' with 'ought'.
Examples
"This medicine is made from all-natural ingredients, so it must be safe and effective."
"Humans have been eating meat for thousands of years, so it's morally acceptable."
How to Avoid This
Recognize that 'natural' does not always mean 'good'. Many natural things are harmful (like poison ivy or arsenic), and many unnatural things are beneficial (like vaccines or glasses).
How to Counter This
Provide examples of natural things that are bad and unnatural things that are good. Point out that the morality or value of something should be judged on its effects, not on whether it is 'natural'.