Logical Reasoning

PT110 · S2 · Q14 Some people claim that every

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Some people claim that every human discovery or invention is an instance of self-expression.

Conclusion (So)

We are not obliged to take their claim seriously.

rephrase: it's basically a vacuous claim to say that every discovery or invention is an instance of self-expression.

Evidence

Some people claim that every human discovery or invention is an instance of self-expression.

These people seem to ignore that trivially, anything we do is self-expressive.

Evaluate

The argument suggests that the claim is trivial because it equates to "anything we do is self-expressive." The argument dismisses the claim until a more interesting interpretation is provided.

To support the overall reasoning, we could strengthen the link between "trivial" claims and the idea that they do not require serious consideration. We could also rule out the idea that discoveries/inventions are a special kind of self-expression that's different from the trivial sense.

Goal

Let's find an answer choice that connects trivial claims with the notion that such claims don't warrant serious consideration. Ideally, the correct answer will reinforce that something trivial doesn't need to be taken seriously.

14.

Which one of the following, if true, provides the most support for the reasoning above?

  1. All claims that are trivial

    Weaker Impact

    While linking trivial claims to being uninteresting, this doesn't help us understand why these claims should not be taken seriously or considered. We'd have to add our own assumption that "if it's uninteresting, then it should be taken seriously or considered", making this a weaker answer than the correct answer.

    11% picked this

  2. Most people do not take

    No Impact

    The conclusion, using normative wording like "obligated to", is about whether we should / shouldn't take a certain claim seriously, not about whether we are / aren't taking it seriously. This tells us that most people ARE NOT taking these claims seriously, but the argument is about whether people SHOULD NOT take these claims seriously.

    9% picked this

  3. Correct

    No claims that are trivial

    Why this is right

    This option directly supports the argument by stating that trivial claims, like the self-expression claim, do not merit serious attention. It strengthens the claim that we're not obliged to take the self-expression interpretation seriously because of its trivial nature.

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

    69% picked this

  4. Every claim is open to

    Opposite (if anything)

    This doesn't connect the trivial nature of a claim with any reasoning that supports dismissing it. It instead suggests that even trivial claims can have interesting interpretations, which doesn't align with the author's argument.

    9% picked this

  5. Every interpretation is either trivial

    Weaker Impact

    This option implies that interpretations can't be both trivial and interesting (like choice A), but doesn't have as direct a connection to the idea that "we're not obliged to take it seriously" as the correct answer does.

    3% picked this

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