Logical Reasoning

PT113 · S3 · Q22 On the surface, Melville’s Billy

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On the surface, Melville’s Billy Budd is a simple story with a simple theme.

Conclusion

We should read Billy Budd as a simple tragedy.

Evidence

There's no textual or historical evidence that Melville intended an allegorical reading.

Evaluate

When we're picking answer choices that are principles to justify or conform to an argument, we're just prephrasing "If Premise, then Conclusion".

Goal

If there's no textual or historical evidence that the author intended an allegorical reading, then just read the book as whatever it superficially seems like.

22.

Which one of the following most accurately expresses the principle underlying the argument?

  1. Given a choice between an

    Bad Premise Match

    This would get us where we want to go (the conclusion is suggesting the nonallegorical reading), but it doesn't use the reason the premise did. This is just saying "eh, let's just always lean away from the allegorical". That's stronger than anything the author proposed. She was saying "since there's no textual or historical evidence, let's lean away from allegorical".

    1% picked this

  2. The only relevant evidence in

    Too Strong: the only

    The author didn't need to assume that the author's stated intention is the only thing we should ever consider (in fact, she seems to be willing to consider clues from the text or from historical evidence as well, which pretty much would contradict this principle).

    20% picked this

  3. In deciding between rival readings

    Too Strong

    Too Strong: Most Favorable Bad Premise Match The author's premise is saying "because simple tragedy would be the most favorable way to read this ...". She says, "Since we don't have any textual or historical evidence suggesting allegorical ... "

    1% picked this

  4. Correct

    Without relevant evidence as to

    Why this is right

    This matches the move from Premise to Conclusion. "Since there is no textual or historical evidence M intended an allegorical reading, lets steer clear of forcing an allegorical reading on this one."

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

    74% picked this

  5. The only relevant evidence in

    Too Strong: The Only

    The author doesn't seem to invoke any principle that is this extreme, and the fact that she considers historical evidence as a possible source of "allegorical intent" would go against this principle.

    4% picked this

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