Logical Reasoning

PT117 · S2 · Q16 Sociologist: Some economists hold that

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Sociologist: Some economists hold that unregulated markets should accompany democratic sovereignty because they let people vote with their money.

Counterpoint

If you're aiming for democracy, you should have free markets, because that way people can vote with their money.

Conclusion

People who want democracy can still want regulated (un-free) markets.

Evidence

Voting with money is a question of "What do I want", whereas voting in an election is a question of "What do we want". The private consumer and the public citizen are different entities (so supporting regulation and supporting democracy are not contradictory positions)

Goal

This is an unusual feeling ... we're doing Main Conclusion, and the conclusion is the last claim? With a clear conclusion indicator like Hence?

Since this argument is still a rebuttal argument, we might want to prime our brain with the sound of negating the opponent's position.

Opposing position Unregulated markets should accompany democratic sovereignty.

Author's rebuttal position Regulated markets can accompany democratic sovereignty.

Ultimately, that rebuttal position does sound like the final claim, so let's look for a meaning match for the final sentence.

16.

Which one of the following most accurately expresses the conclusion drawn by the sociologist?

  1. Voters think of themselves as

    Never Said

    The conclusion will be explicitly stated, and this was never said.

    11% picked this

  2. Unregulated markets are incompatible with

    Too Strong: incompatible

    Our author is just saying that democracy doesn't have to be with unregulated markets. She isn't saying that democracy can't be with unregulated markets.

    22% picked this

  3. Where there is democratic sovereignty

    Opponent's Position

    This is the position in the first sentence, which our author then rebuts.

    3% picked this

  4. Private consumers are primarily concerned

    Never Said

    This answer would appeal to someone who's looking for an Assumption or Inference. But we aren't trying to pull something hidden out of the text. We're putting big flashing arrows next to one of the argument's claims and saying, "THIS is the conclusion. THIS claim!"

    2% picked this

  5. Correct

    Opposition to unregulated markets is

    Why this is right

    This is a meaning match for the final sentence, which was prefaced by the conclusion indicator "Hence". The last sentence was supported by everything after the word "But". They used inverted syntax to disguise the meaning match. Opposing to unregulated = Support for regulated

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

    61% picked this

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