#4 - Walter: For the economically privileged in a society to tolerate an injustice perpetrated again

[Administrator]

Complete Question Explanation

Method of Reasoning - Cause and Effect. The correct answer choice is (D).

Answer choice (A):

Answer choice (B):

Answer choice (C):

Answer choice (D): This is the correct answer choice.

Answer choice (E):

This explanation is still in progress. Please post any questions below!

[p.arya]

What is Walter's conclusion? Is it that the policy of tolerating an injustice is shortsighted? If so, isn't Larissa undermining that conclusion like A says?

[Jeff Wren]

Hi p.arya,

Walter's conclusion is the first half of his statement up to the colon (:). You're correct that it is that a policy of tolerating an injustice is "not just morally wrong but also short sighted." However, Larissa does not give "reason to doubt the truth Walter's conclusion" (as described in Answer A). Larissa actually agrees with Walter's conclusion; it is his reason/premise that she disputes.

When Larissa states "allowing such injustices to persist is bad policy," she is agreeing with Walter that the policy is morally wrong/short sighted. While "bad" may not by synonymous with "morally wrong or short-sighted," here it is being used in a similar way. Larissa is basically saying, "Walter, you are right that the policy is bad, but not for the reason that you gave."

If Larissa were disagreeing with Walter's conclusion, she'd be arguing that it was a good policy.

Where she disagrees with Walter is why it is bad policy. She claims that it is "not because it places everyone at equal risk" (which is Walter's reason), "but because it is a potent source of unrest" (which is her reason for why it's a bad policy.)

This is best described in Answer D.