Lesson 27: Appeal to Nature

Spot the Faulty Logic #

“I only use natural remedies for headaches because natural things are always safer than artificial medicines.”

Discussion: Talk with your teacher about this example. Is everything natural automatically safe?

How/Why It’s Often Used #

There’s a romantic idea that nature is pure and good, while human-made things are artificial and potentially harmful. This feeling has some basis - processed foods and synthetic chemicals have sometimes caused problems. But the conclusion that “natural = good” and “unnatural = bad” is far too simple.

This fallacy is extremely common in marketing, especially for food, medicine, and personal care products. “All natural!” is used as a selling point, implying safety and quality without proving it.

Appeal to Nature in Action #

Did you spot the faulty logic? #

Many natural substances are harmful (poison hemlock, arsenic, etc.), and many synthetic medicines are thoroughly tested and safe. “Natural” doesn’t equal “safe” - each remedy should be evaluated on its actual evidence of safety and effectiveness.

Second Example #

“Humans aren’t meant to fly - it’s unnatural. That’s why I’ll never get on an airplane.”

The Flaw #

Many things humans do are “unnatural” by some definitions - wearing clothes, cooking food, reading. The naturalness of an activity doesn’t determine whether it’s safe or good. Airplanes are extremely safe due to engineering and testing.