Logical Reasoning

PT136 · S2 · Q19 Social scientist: Since the body

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Social scientist: Since the body of thought known as Marxism claims to describe rigorously an inexorable historical movement toward the socialization of the means of production, it should be regarded as a scientific theory.

Premise

The body of thought known M → DHM as Marxism claims to describe rigorously an inexorable historical movement toward the socialization of the means of production.

Intermediate Conclusion

[Marxism] should be M → ST regarded as a scientific theory.

Main Conclusion

Thus, certain interpreters, M → ~PP in taking Marxism as a political program aimed at radically transforming society, have misconstrued it.

Evaluate

The argument assumes ST → ~PP that scientific theories are not political programs.

19.

The social scientist's conclusion follows logically if which one of the following is assumed?

  1. The description that Marxism gives

    Supports a Premise

    This supports the premise of the argument.

    2% picked this

  2. The aims of science are

    Out of Scope

    The aims of science and those who would seek to transform society by political means are not relevant to the argument.

    13% picked this

  3. Only bodies of thought consisting

    Reversal / Wrong Trigger

    This reverses an assumption of the intermediate argument. Furthermore, even if the relationship were in the right direction, it still relies on the wrong trigger since the argument does not indicate that Marxism consists purely of rigorous description.

    5% picked this

  4. Correct

    Scientific theories cannot be correctly

    Why this is right

    This bridges the gap ST → ~PP between scientific theories and political programs.

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

    79% picked this

  5. The means of production will

    Out of Scope

    Whether the means of production will inevitably become socialized is not relevant to whether Marxism is correctly characterized as a political program.

    1% picked this

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