Logical Reasoning

PT118 · S1 · Q7 An artificial hormone has recently

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An artificial hormone has recently been developed that increases milk production in cows.

Conclusion (should = opinion)

The proposal to require milk labels to detail what artificial substances were used to make the milk should not be implemented.

Evidence (colon)

Just imagine trying to list every synthetic fertilizer used to grow the grass and grain the cows ate, or every fungicide used to keep the grain from spoiling.

Evaluate

On Method, we ultimately just need to pick an answer with a true description, but we can benefit by being aware of the 8 options these questions usually come down to:

- analogies - (counter)example to general claim - ruling out other options - suggesting alternative explanations - troublesome implications - definitions / distinctions - raising an overlooked consideration - calling out a dubious assumption

Here, it seems like the author was doing the "troublesome implications" move. This either takes the form of arguing, or it takes the form we're seeing here, where someone talks through the implications of a plan / recommendation.

Our author is saying that if milk producers were required to talk about all artificial substances used in milk production, that would have absurd / untenable / unacceptable consequences, such as having to list the fertilizer used to grow the grass the cows ate or the fungicide used to keep the grain from spoiling.

Goal

Look for something like,

7.

The argument proceeds by

  1. proposing an alternative course of

    Out of Scope

    Out of Scope: alternative course of action This argument is only designed to shoot down the current proposal. The author never proposes any alternative course of action that could help consumers know whether their milk contains an artificial hormone.

    0% picked this

  2. Correct

    raising considerations in order to

    Why this is right

    The author's final two claims are considerations that show that if milk producers were strictly required to list all artificial substances used in milk production, then they'd have to list things as absurd as what fertilizer was used to grow the grass or what fungicide was used to keep the grain from spoiling. The sense of absurdity is partially conveyed by the exclamation point in the final sentence. The author is incredulously exasperated! When an author argues that something "reduces to absurdity", it basically means it entails dumb or ridiculous ideas.

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

    78% picked this

  3. using specific examples in order

    Out of Scope: alternative proposal

    This argument is only designed to shoot down the current proposal. The author never proposes any alternative course of action that could better help consumers know whether their milk contains an artificial hormone.

    2% picked this

  4. introducing a case analogous to

    Out of Scope

    Out of Scope: analogy Too Strong: impossible The author doesn't introduce any analogy nor does she argue that implementing this proposal would be impossible (although she definitely thinks it would be an unfair demand to make of milk producers).

    19% picked this

  5. questioning the motivation of those

    Out of Scope: questioning motivation

    The author's premises appear after the colon in the final sentence. Nothing in there sounds anything like the author is discussing the motives of the people who came up with this proposal.

    0% picked this

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