Naturalistic Fallacy

Appeal to Nature vs. Naturalistic Fallacy

The naturalistic fallacy can be seen as a subset of the appeal to nature, or a more specific version that makes a moralistic value claim rather than the more generic claim of goodness. For example, saying that cocaine is good for you because it is natural is an example of an appeal to nature. This has nothing to do with morality, but with health. Saying that polyamorous behaviour (having multiple sexual partners) is morally good because it seems to be in line with our natural tendencies is an example of the naturalistic fallacy. If one were to say that the first example was an example of the naturalistic fallacy, they would be incorrect. If one were to argue that the second was an example of the appeal to nature, they wouldn't be wrong (if they are equating moral actions with goodness) but they could be more accurate. Just as some dogs are Great Danes but not all dogs are Great Danes, some appeals to nature can be naturalistic fallacies, but not all appeals to nature are naturalistic fallacies.