- Wed Jan 21, 2015 12:00 am
#72969
Complete Question Explanation
Parallel Flaw. The correct answer choice is (D).
The last question of the section presents an interesting mash-up of both conditional and causal reasoning, wherein one condition (immunity to a microorganism) is sufficient to prove that such a microorganism will not cause harmful symptoms (an anti-causal claim inside a necessary condition). The stimulus then proceeds essentially like any Mistaken Reversal, wherein the author asserts that because a microorganism did not cause harmful symptoms (the neccessary condition occurred), that is sufficient to prove immunity to that microorganism (the sufficient condition occurred.) In this Parallel Flaw question we need to find an answer that matches that flaw - a Mistaken Reversal, preferably with a causal or anti-causal claim embedded in one of the conditions.
Answer choice (A): While this answer is flawed, it is not due to a Mistaken Reversal, but an incorrect application of Formal; Logic, and it also lacks the causal element we are looking for. (Note that this answer would have been valid if the author had said some things that best serve the interests of everyone are not morally right, and reversing that claim as this answer did is not, technically speaking, a Mistaken Reversal of conditional reasoning, but is due to the incorrect application of the concept of "some.")
Answer choice (B): Although some of the claims in this answer could be converted to conditional claims, there is no Mistaken Reversal present, but more like a Mistaken Negation. Also, "probably" in the conclusion is a very different strength than what we saw in the stimulus. Loser.
Answer choice (C): This answer is solely causal, with no conditional elements to it, and is therefore a complete mismatch for our stimulus.
Answer choice (D): This is the correct answer choice. Here we have a Mistaken Reversal, and some implied causal reasoning in one of the conditions (with excessive taxation as the cause and less expansion as the effect). This is a match, and therefore our correct choice.
Answer choice (E): Nothing conditional to see here, just a claim about what happens less often within one group than in others, and a conclusion that there is no cause and effect involved. Absent the overriding conditional framework for the argument, the causal part is not enough to match the stimulus and this answer must be rejected.
Parallel Flaw. The correct answer choice is (D).
The last question of the section presents an interesting mash-up of both conditional and causal reasoning, wherein one condition (immunity to a microorganism) is sufficient to prove that such a microorganism will not cause harmful symptoms (an anti-causal claim inside a necessary condition). The stimulus then proceeds essentially like any Mistaken Reversal, wherein the author asserts that because a microorganism did not cause harmful symptoms (the neccessary condition occurred), that is sufficient to prove immunity to that microorganism (the sufficient condition occurred.) In this Parallel Flaw question we need to find an answer that matches that flaw - a Mistaken Reversal, preferably with a causal or anti-causal claim embedded in one of the conditions.
Answer choice (A): While this answer is flawed, it is not due to a Mistaken Reversal, but an incorrect application of Formal; Logic, and it also lacks the causal element we are looking for. (Note that this answer would have been valid if the author had said some things that best serve the interests of everyone are not morally right, and reversing that claim as this answer did is not, technically speaking, a Mistaken Reversal of conditional reasoning, but is due to the incorrect application of the concept of "some.")
Answer choice (B): Although some of the claims in this answer could be converted to conditional claims, there is no Mistaken Reversal present, but more like a Mistaken Negation. Also, "probably" in the conclusion is a very different strength than what we saw in the stimulus. Loser.
Answer choice (C): This answer is solely causal, with no conditional elements to it, and is therefore a complete mismatch for our stimulus.
Answer choice (D): This is the correct answer choice. Here we have a Mistaken Reversal, and some implied causal reasoning in one of the conditions (with excessive taxation as the cause and less expansion as the effect). This is a match, and therefore our correct choice.
Answer choice (E): Nothing conditional to see here, just a claim about what happens less often within one group than in others, and a conclusion that there is no cause and effect involved. Absent the overriding conditional framework for the argument, the causal part is not enough to match the stimulus and this answer must be rejected.
E