Logical Reasoning

PT142 · S1 · Q10 Principle: People should buy

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Principle: People should buy an expensive antique only if they can be confident of its authenticity and they find the piece desirable for its intrinsic qualities and not just for its value as an investment.

Principle

only if = necessary (put it on the right)

so we could write Confident of its Authenticity Should buy → and Desirable for its intrinsic qualities

However, you always want to contrapose principles, if necessary, so that you have the judge-y, normative term on the right side (should, ought, right, wrong, permissible, impermissible, justified, unjustified)

~Confident Authenticity or → shouldn't buy Only value as investment antique (not cuz it's pretty)

Application Conclusion

M shouldn't buy this antique vase offered for sale on the Internet.

Evaluate

In order to trigger the outcome of "shouldn't buy" we have to establish that this vase Matilda found for sale on the Internet fits either of the criterion in the trigger of the Principe:

1. can't be confident of authenticity or 2. only like it as an investment property, not inherently attracted to it

Goal

Look for an answer convincing us that we can't be confident of the authenticity of this vase, or one convincing us that Matilda only wants this as an investment property.

10.

Which one of the following, if true, most helps to justify the above application of the principle?

  1. While this style of vase

    Basically Fails Both

    It sounds like it's not coveted as an investment property (because it's not sought after by others, so there's little re-sale demand) and it sounds like M is really good at judging authenticity.

    3% picked this

  2. Although the seller is willing

    Doesn't Establish Either

    We have no idea why Matilde wants it (likes it vs. investment), and we have no way to say she can't be confident of its authenticity.

    6% picked this

  3. The seller of the vase

    Fails Both

    She can be confident of its authenticity, and she's also attracted to intrinsic qualities, so this has failed both criteria.

    9% picked this

  4. The asking price for the

    Doesn't Establish Either

    We don't have a way to say she can't be confident it's authentic, and it looks like she is attracted to its style, so we would have an even harder time saying she's not attracted to it, just buying for investment.

    1% picked this

  5. Correct

    While Matilde likes the color

    Why this is right

    This establishes that Matilde can't be confident of the authenticity (can't be examined closely or authenticated over the Internet). That's enough to trigger the Principle (since it was X or Y ? shouldn't buy).

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

    82% picked this

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