Logical Reasoning

PT108 · S3 · Q5 Researchers have developed a membrane

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Researchers have developed a membrane that quickly removes the oxygen from a refrigerator, thereby killing bacteria and enabling food to be stored almost indefinitely.

Conclusion (Thus)

Over the long run, oxygen-removing refrigerators will prove far less expensive than current models.

Intermediate Conclusion

Energy costs will be greatly reduced.

Evidence (since)

An oxygen-removing refrigerator will have no oxygen, so the bacteria will die off and won't be at risk of spoilage. Thus, the food doesn't need to be kept as cold.

Evaluate

Given that ... we could run one of these anti-oxygen fridges at a warmer temperature, because we don't have to worry about bacteria spoiling our food,

How could we still argue that ... Over the long run, anti-oxygen fridges will not be less expensive than current models?

It sounds like the anti-oxygen fridge would save on energy costs, but maybe there are other costs? Do you have to replace or maintain that special membrane? Does it break down and need repair? Are there batteries or liquids you have to maintain?

Goal

This could go in a different direction, but the conclusion is really advertising a Net Gain / Loss type claim, so we should probably look for an answer discussing a way in this new type of fridge could be more expensive than our current fridges.

Otherwise, it might point out an overlooked reason why we'd need to still keep our new fridges just as cold, even though bacteria is no longer a risk.

5.

The reasoning in the argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it does not

  1. Correct

    address the expense of building

    Why this is right

    This addresses the Net Gain / Loss issue of whether you'd actually end up saving money in the long run. Yes, you might save on energy costs for the years of usage, but the new technology is crazy expensive to build, or to add to your existing fridge. Since the author said, "over the long run", we might be kind of annoyed at this answer, like, "How is it a good objection to talk about the up front costs, if the conclusion is about the long run?" But think about trying this in real life -- putting an airtight membrane on a fridge with an oxygen removing vacuum? Let's say that's a $10,000 fridge, whereas a normal one would be $1,000. Even if you're saving money on your energy bill each month, is it really going to be less expensive over the long-run to buy this $10,000 anti-oxygen fridge? In order for an author to logically prove a Net Gain / Loss conclusion, she would have to mention all the gains (such as "energy costs will be reduced") and all the losses (such as "building / retrofitting this type of fridge will definitely cost some extra money").

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

    83% picked this

  2. address the possibility of consumer

    Out of Scope: discomfort

    The conclusion is purely about dollars and cents, not about how much people like these new fridges. We can only argue with the author by bringing up stuff that would allow us to say that you wouldn't save money in the long run, by buying one of these fridges. Consumer "discomfort" doesn't have any concrete connection to saving money.

    2% picked this

  3. explain the technology that enabled

    Not an Objection

    It is true that the author didn't explain the origin story of this technology, but there's no reason the author needs to do that. The author's conclusion rests on the truth value of money saved vs. spent, by using this new model. An explanation of the technology that went into the development of this membrane is irrelevant; we only care about how the costs of this new fridge compare to the costs of the current models.

    2% picked this

  4. take into account the effectiveness

    Contradicted, if anything Not an Objection

    It feels like argument does consider the current model's effectiveness at preventing food spoilage. The current models are less effective at preventing spoilage, because there is bacteria in the current models. The new models will remove the oxygen, which will kill the bacteria, so it will enable food to be stored almost indefinitely. We know that we can't currently store food almost indefinitely, so the author is communicating how much more effective this new type of fridge would be at preventing food spoilage. At any rate, even if both types of fridges were equally effective at preventing spoilage, the fact that the new type of fridge can achieve that spoilage-prevention at a warmer temperature (and thus incur lower energy costs) would still allow the author to say that the new fridge is cheaper in the long run.

    12% picked this

  5. take into account the inconvenience

    Not an Objection

    The author doesn't directly address the inconvenience cause by food spoilage, but so what? The author is trying to prove that the new fridge will be cheaper in the long run. Does the inconvenience of food spoilage have a cost? No, not if we just mean the disappointment of seeing our leftovers are no loner edible. And if the inconvenience of spoiled food turns into us having to go to the store to buy replacement food, then talking about this would only strengthen the author's case. She'd say .... "not only do you save on energy costs with the new fridge -- you also save money on buying new food to replace the food that spoiled."

    1% picked this

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