Gegen die Natur

The reference to natural orders is a constant in human norm-setting. Apparent violations of the "natural" by human and non-human actors evoke strong emotional reactions: wonder, fear, or horror. But how can nature serve as a model for human normativity? Is there not simply a naturalistic fallacy hidden behind this? Lorraine Daston shows that the naturalization of order is deeply connected to humanity's need for representation. Nature appears as an unavoidable model for human norms not only because the orders of nature are always present in experience. Nature, in its infinite diversity, also serves as a model for all conceivable cultural norms.