#22 - Sociologist: Some people argue that capital punishment for theft was an essential part of the

[Administrator]

Complete Question Explanation

Method-Argument Part. The correct answer choice is (E).

Answer choice (A):

Answer choice (B):

Answer choice (C):

Answer choice (D):

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

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

[kimcke]

I'm having trouble understanding why A is not the correct answer. I thought that it undermined the claim that capital punishment for theft was essential?
Is it because it's not going against evidence but rather a claim? Any help appreciated, thank you!

[Jeff Wren]

Hi kimcke,

This argument can be tricky to follow.

The first sentence provides the first viewpoint "some people argue...." Usually, we'd expect the conclusion in this argument to disagree with this viewpoint, as this is a common form or pattern of arguments in logical reasoning. However, this argument varies the typical form/pattern. Next, we get the view of the critics of the first viewpoint. Finally, in the last sentence, we get the author's view. This final sentence starts "but such a criticism overlooks the fact ...." This indicates that the author disagrees with the view of the critics.

The problem with Answer A is that the point that capitalism and industrialization are distinct is used to attack the critics, not the people who argued that "capital punishment for theft was an essential part of labor discipline of British capitalism." In other words, Answer A is describing the wrong group/viewpoint that is being attacked by the argument.

Answer E correctly describes that the point being made by the sociologist is used to attack the view of the critics of this first viewpoint, not the first viewpoint itself.