Logical Reasoning

PT134 · S2 · Q25 Sociologist: Widespread acceptance

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Sociologist: Widespread acceptance of the idea that individuals are incapable of looking after their own welfare is injurious to a democracy.

Evidence

The assumptions that appear to guide AGL → WA legislators will often become widely accepted.

Widespread acceptance of the idea WA → ID that individuals are incapable of looking after their own welfare is injurious to a democracy.

Conclusion

So legislators who value democracy ~ID → ~PBNH should not propose any law prohibiting behavior that is not harmful to anyone besides the person engaging in it.

Evaluate

The argument assumes that a legislator PBNH → AGL who proposes prohibiting behavior that is not harmful to anyone besides the person engaging in it will seem to be guided by the assumption that individuals are incapable of looking after their own welfare.

25.

The sociologist's argument requires the assumption that

  1. democratically elected legislators invariably have

    Too Weak

    This fails to establish what these legislators “should” do.

    3% picked this

  2. people tend to believe what

    Supports a Premise

    This supports a premise of the argument.

    6% picked this

  3. legislators often seem to be

    Too Weak

    This fails to establish the point that legislators should not propose any law prohibiting behavior that it not harmful to anyone besides the person engaging in it.

    9% picked this

  4. in most cases, behavior that

    Too Strong

    The argument needs to assume that there are at least some cases where this is true, but to say it’s true of most cases goes too far.

    7% picked this

  5. Correct

    a legislator proposing a law

    Why this is right

    This bridges the gap between PBNH → AGL proposing a law prohibiting an act not harmful to anyone other than the person performing the act and the legistor appearing to be guided by the assumption that individuals are incapable of looking after their own welfare.

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

    76% picked this

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