Falling prey to appeals to nature can cause us to turn a blind eye to suffering. Here's why we should resist these fallacious arguments when imagining how much better the world can be.
"One salient example is factory farming, which is often supported because it's supposedly part of the natural order and is thus acceptable."
Whilst some may claim that eating meat is natural, I've never heard anyone say factory farming is. Indeed, many of the critiques of factory farming to do so because it is 'unnatural':
"I think the same could be said about the track record of appealing to reason or utility. Track records can always be cherrypicked."
I think if we looked at it carefully, we'd find that critical reasoning has a much better track record than appealing to nature. To have various historically relevant thinkers on the past justify moral atrocities via appealing to nature surely gives us *some* evidence (though not all, crucially!) that this line of reasoning can be dangerous.
"This is debatable given stagnating productivity and rising levels of unhappiness."
I don't think the relatively banal statement that semiconductors have improved our communication, productivity, and entertainment is debatable. Silicon-based semiconductors have been around since the 1960s, so I'd probably look elsewhere to explain falls in productivity and happiness (also, this is hard for me to respond to without a source). They're now an industry worth hundreds of billions, so clearly they're valuable. We're currently using them to have this discussion, I should point out!
"One salient example is factory farming, which is often supported because it's supposedly part of the natural order and is thus acceptable."
Whilst some may claim that eating meat is natural, I've never heard anyone say factory farming is. Indeed, many of the critiques of factory farming to do so because it is 'unnatural':
https://www.effectivealtruism.org/articles/cause-profile-animal-welfare
Even advocates of the carnivore diet usually say that they are against factory farming: https://plantbasednews.org/culture/joe-rogan-factory-farming-illegal/
You're right, and I updated the language to better reflect what I meant. Thank you for pointing this out.
FWIW I intended to make the case that factory farming is often tacitly endorsed because eating meat is supposedly natural.
Happy to help. Yes, factory farming a big moral blindspot for any meateater who doesn't live on a prairie.
I do have a couple of other queries that may be worth thinking about:
"Our track record with appealing to nature is dismal. Moral errors we chastise in hindsight were occasionally justified on natural grounds"
I think the same could be said about the track record of appealing to reason or utility. Track records can always be cherrypicked.
"Silicon-based semiconductors have improved almost every aspect of life, including how we communicate, work, and entertain ourselves."
This is debatable given stagnating productivity and rising levels of unhappiness.
"I think the same could be said about the track record of appealing to reason or utility. Track records can always be cherrypicked."
I think if we looked at it carefully, we'd find that critical reasoning has a much better track record than appealing to nature. To have various historically relevant thinkers on the past justify moral atrocities via appealing to nature surely gives us *some* evidence (though not all, crucially!) that this line of reasoning can be dangerous.
"This is debatable given stagnating productivity and rising levels of unhappiness."
I don't think the relatively banal statement that semiconductors have improved our communication, productivity, and entertainment is debatable. Silicon-based semiconductors have been around since the 1960s, so I'd probably look elsewhere to explain falls in productivity and happiness (also, this is hard for me to respond to without a source). They're now an industry worth hundreds of billions, so clearly they're valuable. We're currently using them to have this discussion, I should point out!