#14 - The authorship of the Iliad and the Odyssey has long

[CJ12345:]

hi, powerscore,
In AC C, since "a hypothesis" is unclear what it refers to, if it refers to "homer created both works", would C be correct? Since we know there is no overwhelming evidence for either claim, we know that there is no overwhelming evidence for the claim "Homer created both works" or against "Homer did not create either work". And AC C said if this is the case, we should believe the hypothesis which is "homer created both works". It matches exactly with the stimulus's conclusion. Why it is wrong? Also, when the referential phrase like "a hypothesis" has an unclear meaning, what should we do?

[srusty]

Hi C! You’re correct that answer choice © refers to a hypothesis without specifying which one. So, if we take it to mean both hypotheses, then the principle in answer choice © tells us that we should believe both of the hypotheses. However, our conclusion doesn’t accept both, just the traditional hypothesis. So, the principle here doesn’t reflect our conclusion. Hope this helps!

[attorneyatpaw]

Hello! This is one of those questions where I understood the argument in the stimulus but got the answer wrong because I didn't understand the answer choices.

Is answer choice (B) a nested conditional statement diagrammed as follows?

Hypothesis against tradition --> (Accept hypothesis --> overwhelming evidence)

What would the contrapositive of this nested conditional statement look like?

[Jeff Wren]

Hi attorneyatpaw,

Yes, Answer B does have a nested conditional statement.

As far as diagramming, I'd recommend keeping things simple by just using three terms and not diagramming a nested conditional statement.

The following diagram is correct in what the sentence is saying and (I think) much easier to understand and take the contrapositive.

HGAT + Not OE -> Not AH

(which means, If a hypothesis goes against tradition and there is not overwhelming evidence for the hypothesis, then one should not accept the hypothesis)

The contrapositive is:

AH -> Not HGAT or OE

(which means, if one should accept a hypothesis, then either the hypothesis does Not go against tradition or there is overwhelming evidence for the hypothesis)

To directly answer your question, the contrapositive of diagram with the nested conditional would be:

(if accept hypothesis without overwhelming evidence, then hypothesis does Not go against tradition)

Hopefully, you see how the avoiding the nested conditional makes it easier to understand and diagram.