Logical Reasoning

PT120 · S1 · Q23 Columnist: Neuroscientists have found that

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Columnist: Neuroscientists have found that states of profound creativity are accompanied by an increase of theta brain waves, which occur in many regions of the brain, including the hippocampus.

Conclusion

One can attain a state of profound creativity merely by listening to a tape of recorded music.

Evidence

Profound creativity is accompanied by an increase of theta brain waves. Listening to music dramatically increases theta waves.

Evaluate

The argument observes that theta waves accompany creativity (creativity → theta waves) and that music produces theta waves (music → theta waves). It then leaps to "music produces creativity." But theta waves coming with creativity does not mean theta waves cause creativity. Music could raise theta waves without producing creativity at all.

Goal

Find an answer that points out theta waves can rise without creativity following — i.e., the argument confuses an accompaniment of creativity with something that produces creativity.

23.

The columnist's reasoning is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it

  1. takes for granted that there

    Bad Description

    The argument does not need a causal connection between the hippocampus and creativity. The argument is about whether music can produce creativity via theta waves; the hippocampus is just one place theta waves occur. Even if no causal connection exists between the hippocampus and creativity, the argument's real flaw — the leap from theta-wave accompaniment to creativity production — remains.

    12% picked this

  2. fails to consider that music

    Bad Objection

    The argument concludes one can attain creativity by listening to music — it does not claim music is the only way. So failing to consider that music is unnecessary for creativity is not a flaw; the conclusion is consistent with other paths to creativity. This objection does not actually weaken the argument.

    8% picked this

  3. does not rule out the

    Bad Objection

    Whether other ways of listening to music also raise theta waves is irrelevant. The conclusion is about tape-recorded music — if tapes work, the conclusion stands. Even if live music or radios also work, that does not undermine the argument; it would just expand the conclusion.

    3% picked this

  4. Correct

    ignores the possibility that an

    Why this is right

    This is the gap. The stimulus only says profound creativity is accompanied by increased theta waves — meaning when creativity occurs, theta waves occur. It does not say increased theta waves are always accompanied by creativity. So music could send theta waves shooting up without any creativity to show for it. The argument needed the reverse direction (theta waves → creativity) and never established it.

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

    76% picked this

  5. provides insufficient reasons to believe

    Bad Description

    The argument is not making a claim about non-creative people. It does not say uncreative states have low theta waves — only that creative states accompany high theta. Failing to support a claim the argument never made is not a flaw in the argument.

    2% picked this

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