Even though apes are the only nonhuman

Answer choices

1. A

   Contradicted2% picked this

   Human language is unique to

   The passage itself states that apes can learn human language, so the uniqueness of human language isn’t assumed or necessary for the argument.

   2%
2. B

   Too Strong: incapable11% picked this

   Apes are incapable of thinking in

   The argument isn’t about whether apes have the capacity to think in human language, just whether they have philosophical thoughts. Negating this answer doesn't weaken the argument, because even if apes could think in human language, they might still not ask philosophical questions.

   11%
3. C

   Correct82% picked this

   Philosophical thought can be expressed only in

   Why this is right

   This feels very strong, but the argument is making a certain move from "since apes haven't expressed philosophical questions in human language, they do not have philosophical thought". If we negate this, and philosophical thought could be expressed without human language, then apes might still have philosophical thought despite never asking such questions in human language. This creates doubt, which weakens the argument.

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

   82%
4. D

   Irrelevant Comparison4% picked this

   Speaking in human language is easier than thinking in

   Whether speaking is easier than thinking has no bearing on whether the lack of philosophical questions in apes indicates an absence of philosophical thought.

   4%
5. E

   Irrelevant Causality / Opposite (if anything)1% picked this

   It is more difficult to learn human language than to express

   The comparative ease of learning language vs. expressing philosophical questions doesn't matter. We're only here to adjudicate whether apes are / aren't capable of philosophical thought. Plus, the author seems to think that apes CAN learn human language but CAN'T express philosophical questions, so if anything it seems like learning human language is the easier thing.

   1%