M: The Greek alphabet must have been invented by some individual who knew the Phoenician writing system and who wanted to have some way of recording Homeric epics and thereby preserving expressions of a highly developed tradition of oral poetry.
P's Conclusion
It's laughable to suggest that the Greek alphabet was invented by someone who knew Phoenician writing and wanted to have a some way to record Homer's epics / that tradition of oral poetry.
P's Evidence
What would be the point of writing Homer's epics down? If you knew them well enough to write them down, you wouldn't ever bother reading what you wrote (you clearly have it memorized). And since no one else would know this brand new alphabet you're creating, no one else would be able to read them.
Evaluate
How can we defend M's hypothesis, given that the person who would invent the alphabet would be the only person who knew what the alphabet meant and given that they wouldn't have any reason to read a poem they wrote down if they had it memorized in the first place?
Let's think of each objection - why write a poem down if you already have it memorized?
Well ... maybe you're afraid you'll forget it in your old age. Maybe you find something aesthetically beautiful about seeing it in print. Maybe you want to write it down and add your own illustrations. Maybe you want to be able to pass this book on to future generations after you're dead.
- why write a poem in a language you just invented if you're the only one who would know how to read your alphabet?
Well ... maybe you love the giddy power of having a secret language unto yourself (not a serious objection, but funny). Maybe you plan to share your alphabet with other people and teach them how to use it?
Goal
Look for an answer that would allow us to defend M's hypothesis against P's objections.