Q&A: Amulets and Homeopathy
Amulets and Homeopathy
Question
Is there a moral/halakhic prohibition against selling amulets or homeopathy, assuming there is evidence that these things are not effective, and the buyers “insist” on believing in them?
Is there any leniency if the seller is also naive? Or is it reasonable to demand that he investigate reality more carefully?
Answer
If you believe it works, then there is no prohibition. There is no general answer to the question.
Discussion on Answer
You certainly can.
Good luck.
I meant of course from a moral standpoint. If such a seller comes to you and says that he innocently believes in the effectiveness of homeopathy, or that he sells it only because there is demand, would you forbid him to trade in it, based on the understanding that he ought to look into the matter and conclude that there is nothing to it?
Again, I think it doesn’t work, but he thinks it does. So according to my view it’s forbidden, but according to his view it’s permitted. So what is the meaning of the question? If I tell him, will he stop? That really is what he thinks.
Can’t we require a person to examine the issue, see that there’s no logic in it working and that there are no serious studies supporting it?