Five Critical Thinking Fallacies:Impact on Therapy
The Naturalistic Fallacy
The Naturalistic Fallacy is confusing a state or situation that is, for one that should be. We can observe many examples of behavior around us. However we shouldn’t assume that because most people do things a certain way, it is right or it should be that way. In a class, the students were asked to define “normal”. There were many explanations but the one I offered was, normal is whatever most people are doing. It is the norm. Just because it is common, it does not mean that it is good, right or wrong. (Levy, 2010, p.50) Levy (2010) also offers additional versions of this common fallacy.
What most people are doing does not define it as being right or correct (e.g. …show more content…
This is often used to justify, “natural” as best. The argument is that some behaviors are common in nature, therefore it is correct and right. For example male animals are aggressive to other males so this behavior is natural. We cannot condemn men and boys for being aggressive, it is in their nature, therefore acceptable. This equates “natural” as the determining criteria of goodness. (Levy, 2010, p.52) I have often engaged in the naturalistic fallacy and resisted adopting new trends in popular culture. This was especially true in Japan where fads are quickly adopted and product life cycles are short. I have observed many instances of products or fashions becoming popular very quickly. Having the latest product enhances a person’s status and or provides the adopters with something in common to talk about. It does not mean that the product is a good one. When I hear that a person, whom I respect, is using this new product then I am tempted to try it myself. There are many examples of how this fallacy can work in a clinical situation. I am probably more aware of the naturalist fallacy than many because I have spent so many years living abroad and questioning the desirability of “normal” behaviors in Japan. However I too must continually strive to be aware of how common beliefs about what is normal
The Naturalistic Fallacy
The Naturalistic Fallacy is confusing a state or situation that is, for one that should be. We can observe many examples of behavior around us. However we shouldn’t assume that because most people do things a certain way, it is right or it should be that way. In a class, the students were asked to define “normal”. There were many explanations but the one I offered was, normal is whatever most people are doing. It is the norm. Just because it is common, it does not mean that it is good, right or wrong. (Levy, 2010, p.50) Levy (2010) also offers additional versions of this common fallacy.
What most people are doing does not define it as being right or correct (e.g. …show more content…
This is often used to justify, “natural” as best. The argument is that some behaviors are common in nature, therefore it is correct and right. For example male animals are aggressive to other males so this behavior is natural. We cannot condemn men and boys for being aggressive, it is in their nature, therefore acceptable. This equates “natural” as the determining criteria of goodness. (Levy, 2010, p.52) I have often engaged in the naturalistic fallacy and resisted adopting new trends in popular culture. This was especially true in Japan where fads are quickly adopted and product life cycles are short. I have observed many instances of products or fashions becoming popular very quickly. Having the latest product enhances a person’s status and or provides the adopters with something in common to talk about. It does not mean that the product is a good one. When I hear that a person, whom I respect, is using this new product then I am tempted to try it myself. There are many examples of how this fallacy can work in a clinical situation. I am probably more aware of the naturalist fallacy than many because I have spent so many years living abroad and questioning the desirability of “normal” behaviors in Japan. However I too must continually strive to be aware of how common beliefs about what is normal