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- Fri Apr 15, 2016 4:41 pm
#23160
Complete Question Explanation
Flaw in the Reasoning. The correct answer choice is (C)
This is a classic ad hominem, or source argument. Instead of addressing the doctors' claim that the herbs are potentially harmful, the herbalist chose to attack the doctors themselves by stating that they are always trying to maintain a monopoly over medical therapies.
Answer Choice (A) There is no effort here to induce fear of the consequences of not trying the herbalist's herb juice. This answer choice would be correct if the herbalist had said something to the effect of "if you don't drink my juice, you'll die." No such claims were made in the stimulus, though, so this answer choice is incorrect.
Answer Choice (B) None of the claims in this stimulus are inconsistent with each other. Even the doctors' claim that the herbs in the herbalist's juice are potentially harmful is not inconsistent with the claim that the juice improves physical coordination in some customers. Something can be potentially harmful and still have positive effects, so these claims are not inconsistent with each other.
Answer Choice (C): This is the correct answer choice. This answer choice describes the source argument in the stimulus. The reason this technique is flawed is that, despite the fact that the doctors themselves have been attacked, we have no information to support or refute their assertion that the herbs in the herbalist's juice are harmful. Therefore, this is a flawed argument.
Answer Choice (D) Although the herbalist does seem to presuppose the truth of his assertion that there is no reason not to try his herb juice, there is an actual argument outside of any such presupposition. The problem is that one of the main premises is flawed as it ignores the argument and attacks those who are presenting the argument.
Answer Choice (E) There is no such mistake in this stimulus. The herbalist is using the fact that customers say their physical coordination improves after drinking the juice as support for the contention that people should drink the juice. The herbalist is not stating that because of this correlation, it is fact that the juice does improve coordination.
Flaw in the Reasoning. The correct answer choice is (C)
This is a classic ad hominem, or source argument. Instead of addressing the doctors' claim that the herbs are potentially harmful, the herbalist chose to attack the doctors themselves by stating that they are always trying to maintain a monopoly over medical therapies.
Answer Choice (A) There is no effort here to induce fear of the consequences of not trying the herbalist's herb juice. This answer choice would be correct if the herbalist had said something to the effect of "if you don't drink my juice, you'll die." No such claims were made in the stimulus, though, so this answer choice is incorrect.
Answer Choice (B) None of the claims in this stimulus are inconsistent with each other. Even the doctors' claim that the herbs in the herbalist's juice are potentially harmful is not inconsistent with the claim that the juice improves physical coordination in some customers. Something can be potentially harmful and still have positive effects, so these claims are not inconsistent with each other.
Answer Choice (C): This is the correct answer choice. This answer choice describes the source argument in the stimulus. The reason this technique is flawed is that, despite the fact that the doctors themselves have been attacked, we have no information to support or refute their assertion that the herbs in the herbalist's juice are harmful. Therefore, this is a flawed argument.
Answer Choice (D) Although the herbalist does seem to presuppose the truth of his assertion that there is no reason not to try his herb juice, there is an actual argument outside of any such presupposition. The problem is that one of the main premises is flawed as it ignores the argument and attacks those who are presenting the argument.
Answer Choice (E) There is no such mistake in this stimulus. The herbalist is using the fact that customers say their physical coordination improves after drinking the juice as support for the contention that people should drink the juice. The herbalist is not stating that because of this correlation, it is fact that the juice does improve coordination.