Appeal to Nature
/əˈpiːl tuː ˈneɪʧər/
Definitions
- (n.) A logical fallacy asserting that something is good or right because it is natural, or bad or wrong because it is unnatural, often used to justify or reject laws or policies based on an appeal to inherent naturalness rather than legal principles.
The lawyer warned that the defendant’s argument was an appeal to nature, ignoring the statute’s clear language.
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Commentary
Though primarily a philosophical fallacy, 'appeal to nature' can appear in legal reasoning critiques when parties justify positions by referencing what is 'natural' rather than legal standards.
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