Logical Reasoning

PT115 · S4 · Q14 The mathematics of the scientific

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The mathematics of the scientific theory known as “complexity” describes those phenomena that are not quite stable and not quite chaotic.

Conclusion

There is good evidence that complexity is correct.

Evidence

The computerized models based on complexity evolve much like the real-world phenomena actually evolve.

Evaluate

We're trying to prove that there is "good evidence" that a theory is correct, based on the premise that mathematical models based on the theory evolve much like real-world phenomena do.

Goal

Let's look for something like, .

14.

Which one of the following principles, if valid, most justifies the scientists' conclusion?

  1. Correct

    If computerized models based on

    Why this is right

    This looks pretty stellar. Is the trigger applicable to complexity theory? Do computerized models based on complexity theory behave like their real-world counterparts behave? Yes, that's what the final sentence of the paragraph tells us. Okay, then according to this rule, "Complexity theory is probably correct". Does that help us justify the conclusion that "there is good evidence that complexity is correct"? Yeah, that sounds pretty close to the conclusion. It doesn't need to be identical to do a good job strengthening it.

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

    73% picked this

  2. If a scientific theory is

    Reversed Logic

    This has similar ideas to (A), but they're in the wrong order. When we're trying to match a Principle to an Argument, we need the Trigger (left side) to match up with the evidence and the Outcome (right side) to match up with the conclusion. This answer is saying, "If conclusion, then premise".

    18% picked this

  3. If actual phenomena can be

    Bad Conclusion Match

    This rule would help support a conclusion that "computers will eventually discover the math of the correct theory". We're trying to support a conclusion that says "there is good evidence that complexity is correct", so this outcome doesn't match our conclusion at all.

    1% picked this

  4. If they evolve exactly like

    Bad Conclusion Match

    This rule would help support a conclusion that "computers are nearly purely stable nor purely chaotic". We're trying to support a conclusion that says "there is good evidence that complexity is correct", so this outcome doesn't match our conclusion at all. The trigger is also not going to match, because we were told that the computer model was evolving much like the real-world phenomena, not exactly like them.

    7% picked this

  5. If computers verify that there

    Bad Conclusion Match

    This rule would help support a conclusion that "this theory is probably incorrect". We're trying to support a conclusion that says "there is good evidence that complexity is correct", so this outcome is going the opposite way of what we're trying to prove.

    0% picked this

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