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- Fri Apr 29, 2016 11:28 am
#23610
Complete Question Explanation
Must Be True—PR. The correct answer choice is (D)
The author here asserts that the moral guilt, or innocence, associated with an act is based in large part on surrounding circumstances. The example presented is that of a cook who mistakenly adds a particular ingredient that is out of place in a certain dish; if there are no negative consequences, this is regarded as absentminded, whereas if someone suffers a severe allergic reaction, the mistake would be considered serious moral negligence.
The basic principle at work here: moral blameworthiness is based largely on outcome.
Answer choice (A): This principle is not exemplified by the stimulus, whose author makes no claims regarding "fairness."
Answer choice (B): This answer choice is incorrect for the same reason as answer choice (A) above: the author does not delve into the broad topic of "fairness," so this answer choice cannot be correct.
Answer choice (C): The author of this stimulus is simply making a point about the way things are—not commenting on the way things "should be," so this answer choice can be quickly ruled out. Additionally, there is no reference in the stimulus to equal moral blameworthiness.
Answer choice (D): This is the correct answer choice. This answer choice, while not a perfect replication of our prephrase above, is an accurate depiction of a principle at work in the stimulus. The referenced cook had no intentional control over the mistake, yet would be considered morally blameworthy for negative consequences.
Answer choice (E): The author's argument is that external circumstances "often play a crucial role…" "Often" is a very vague descriptor, and the author certainly does not claim intentions to be "rarely a decisive factor."
Must Be True—PR. The correct answer choice is (D)
The author here asserts that the moral guilt, or innocence, associated with an act is based in large part on surrounding circumstances. The example presented is that of a cook who mistakenly adds a particular ingredient that is out of place in a certain dish; if there are no negative consequences, this is regarded as absentminded, whereas if someone suffers a severe allergic reaction, the mistake would be considered serious moral negligence.
The basic principle at work here: moral blameworthiness is based largely on outcome.
Answer choice (A): This principle is not exemplified by the stimulus, whose author makes no claims regarding "fairness."
Answer choice (B): This answer choice is incorrect for the same reason as answer choice (A) above: the author does not delve into the broad topic of "fairness," so this answer choice cannot be correct.
Answer choice (C): The author of this stimulus is simply making a point about the way things are—not commenting on the way things "should be," so this answer choice can be quickly ruled out. Additionally, there is no reference in the stimulus to equal moral blameworthiness.
Answer choice (D): This is the correct answer choice. This answer choice, while not a perfect replication of our prephrase above, is an accurate depiction of a principle at work in the stimulus. The referenced cook had no intentional control over the mistake, yet would be considered morally blameworthy for negative consequences.
Answer choice (E): The author's argument is that external circumstances "often play a crucial role…" "Often" is a very vague descriptor, and the author certainly does not claim intentions to be "rarely a decisive factor."