Logical Reasoning

PT105 · S4 · Q4 Maude is incessantly engaging in

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Maude is incessantly engaging in diatribes against people who are materialistic.

Conclusion

Maude is a hypocrite for her diatribes against people who are materialistic.

Evidence

When it comes to the watch her grandmother gave her, Maude is very fond of it, worries about damaging it, and always sets it carefully in a special box before going to bed.

Evaluate

The argument is essentially calling Maude a hypocrite because she criticizes materialism, yet seems to have a deep connection with a material object: her grandmother's watch. For this argument to stand, we'd need to assume that Maude's fondness for the watch is indeed a sign of materialism. Otherwise, her careful treatment of the watch might just be a form of sentimental attachment rather than materialistic behavior.

Goal

We want to find an answer that suggests Maude's behavior towards her grandmother's watch makes her materialistic, which would make the charge of hypocrisy make sense. Alternatively, the correct answer could eliminate a way to argue against the conclusion, such as asserting that a sentimental attachment isn't a form of materialism.

4.

Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

  1. Possessions that come from relatives

    Too Weak

    Possessions that come from relatives are treated with better care than those that do not. While this could explain why Maude takes special care of the watch, it doesn't directly address the claim of hypocrisy. This choice would not be necessary for the argument to hold: Maude could still be materialistic without preferential treatment for gifts from relatives.

    2% picked this

  2. Correct

    Sentimental attachment to a single

    Why this is right

    Sentimental attachment to a single possession indicates being materialistic. This choice directly suggests that Maude's careful and fond treatment of her grandmother's watch could indeed be seen as materialism, aligning her behavior with the very materialistic behavior she condemns, thus supporting the argument that she is a hypocrite. If we negate this, it would suggest that sentimental attachment does not indicate materialism, which would mean that Maude's fondness for the watch does not make her materialistic, thus weakening the argument.

    Skill tested: Necessary Assumption · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

    87% picked this

  3. People who care about material

    Too Broad

    People who care about material things in general tend to take special care of all their possessions. This statement is too broad and doesn't help specifically connect Maude's behavior with being materialistic. Even if true, it doesn't explain how her sentimental attachment to one item aligns with materialistic behavior.

    5% picked this

  4. Maude's watch is not the

    Irrelevant

    Maude's watch is not the only material thing she especially cares for. The argument is specifically concerned with Maude's treatment of the watch. Whether or not she cares for other items doesn't impact the reasoning that her behavior towards the watch could indicate materialism. Thus, this is irrelevant in supporting the hypocrisy claim.

    2% picked this

  5. People who are not materialistic

    Weakens

    People who are not materialistic tend to have merely sentimental attachments to things. In fact, if anything, this choice suggests that having a sentimental attachment doesn't mean you're materialistic, which could actually weaken the argument by suggesting Maude's behavior is consistent with non-materialistic attitudes.

    5% picked this

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