naturalistic fallacy
LowFormal, Academic, Technical
Definition
Meaning
The mistaken belief that what is natural is inherently good or right.
In ethics and philosophy, it specifically refers to the error of deriving an 'ought' (a normative or moral conclusion) from an 'is' (a descriptive or factual statement about the natural world). The term is also used more broadly in informal reasoning to criticize arguments that equate what is natural with what is morally desirable.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is highly specialized, originating in moral philosophy (associated with G.E. Moore's 'Principia Ethica'). It describes a specific logical error, not just any flawed appeal to nature. In everyday usage, it's often used more loosely to critique 'appeal to nature' arguments.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or semantic differences. Usage is almost exclusively within academic/philosophical discourse in both regions.
Connotations
Carries a strong critical, academic connotation in both dialects. It implies the target of the term is committing a basic logical error.
Frequency
Equally rare in general language for both, but slightly more common in UK academic writing due to the historical association with British philosophers like Moore and Hume.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] commits the naturalistic fallacy by [verb-ing]...The argument is a clear case of the naturalistic fallacy.One must be careful not to [fall into/commit] the naturalistic fallacy.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Primary context. Used in philosophy, ethics, sociology, and critical theory to dissect moral arguments.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Might be used in sophisticated debates about science, medicine, or ethics.
Technical
Used precisely in philosophy and logic to label a specific inferential error.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The philosopher naturalistic-fallacied his way from an observation about primate behaviour to a moral imperative.
- (Note: This is a highly non-standard, creative usage for illustration only.)
American English
- He naturalistic-fallacied the data, concluding we ought to behave a certain way simply because it occurs in nature.
- (Note: This is a highly non-standard, creative usage for illustration only.)
adverb
British English
- He argued naturalistic-fallaciously.
- (Note: Virtually unattested, theoretical formation.)
American English
- She derived her conclusion naturalistic-fallaciously from the biological facts.
- (Note: Virtually unattested, theoretical formation.)
adjective
British English
- His reasoning had a naturalistic-fallacious quality to it.
- (Note: Extremely rare, non-standard formation.)
American English
- That's a naturalistic-fallacious argument if I've ever heard one.
- (Note: Extremely rare, non-standard formation.)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The claim that something is good because it is 'natural' is often criticised as a form of the naturalistic fallacy.
- The author commits the naturalistic fallacy by asserting that because cooperation is observed in nature, humans therefore have a moral obligation to be purely altruistic.
- A key task in meta-ethics is to construct a theory of the good that does not fall prey to the naturalistic fallacy identified by G.E. Moore.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'NATURAL is NOT necessarily MORAL'. The fallacy jumps from describing Nature to prescribing Morals.
Conceptual Metaphor
LOGICAL REASONING IS A PATH; the naturalistic fallacy is taking a wrong turn off the descriptive path onto the prescriptive path without a bridge.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque translations like 'натуралистический фалласи' which is unclear. The accepted term is 'натуралистическая ошибка' (naturalistic error).
- Do not confuse with 'appeal to nature' which is a broader rhetorical fallacy; the 'naturalistic fallacy' is a more precise philosophical concept.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to mean any 'appeal to tradition' or 'appeal to antiquity'.
- Misspelling as 'naturalist fallacy'.
- Using it outside of an ethical or prescriptive context.
Practice
Quiz
The 'naturalistic fallacy' is most precisely defined as:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. The 'appeal to nature' is a broader, informal rhetorical fallacy. The 'naturalistic fallacy' is a more specific term from moral philosophy about the logical impossibility of deriving ethical values solely from natural facts. In everyday language, they are often used interchangeably.
The term was popularized by the British philosopher G.E. Moore in his 1903 book 'Principia Ethica', though the underlying concept is often traced back to David Hume's 'is-ought' problem.
Yes. 'Lions kill the offspring of rival males. This behaviour is natural. Therefore, it is morally acceptable for humans to do the same.' This erroneously derives a moral 'ought' (it's acceptable) from a biological 'is' (it happens in nature).
No. Facts about nature can be highly relevant (e.g., the capacity for suffering informs animal welfare ethics). The fallacy occurs when one claims that nature alone, without any additional moral premises, directly dictates moral values.