3 ms·
This is the naturalistic fallacy. Historically, people also lived in near starvation conditions, average lifespans were much shorter and a broken leg could be a
by heavyset_go 4y ago
This is the naturalistic fallacy. Historically, people also lived in near starvation conditions, average lifespans were much shorter and a broken leg could be a death sentence.
If you apply the same logic to hunger, for example, even more people would be obese if they ate when they felt hungry, or if they followed their ancestors' instincts to gorge until full whenever the opportunity arose.
It's possible that we've historically survived in a local maxima of resource scarcity, and that "optimal" metabolic performance exists in a place beyond that, where resources are less scarce.
- fullmoon 4y agoThis is the fallacy fallacy. How does infant mortality help us to reason that we should drink beyond thirst?
- heavyset_go 4y agoIt would be the fallacy fallacy if I thought they were wrong, but I don't think they are. I think their reasoning behind their conclusion isn't completely sound, though.
- nradov 4y agoIt's not a fallacy. There is no proven health benefit to drinking water beyond your level of thirst.
- throwaway290 4y agoI typically tell people like nikolai that they should also never eat fruit in winter because historically people didn't if it doesn't naturally grow where you live. After all, if we are imitating history then seasonal scurvy is a must (also seeing your teeth fall out will quickly cure you of this worldview).
- nikolay 4y agoPeople used to eat fruit during the winter - in the form of jams and dried or preserved fruit. Also, sauerkraut was an effective way to prevent scurvy.