PT151 S3 Q7 ExplanationIf rational-choice theory is correct

Answer choices, explained

1. A

   Circular Reasoning2% picked this

   assumes as a premise the contention the argument purports

   The "contention that this argument purports to establish" is the conclusion that rational-choice theory cannot be correct. The argument is not also assuming this as a premise.

   2%
2. B

   Bad Evidence Match2% picked this

   concludes that a theory is false merely on the grounds that the evidence for

   The argument concludes that rational-choice theory is incorrect. But it doesn't state that the evidence for rational-choice theory is merely hypothetical.

   2%
3. C

   Negation4% picked this

   takes for granted that people who are acting in ways that are personally beneficial expected that their actions

   benefit self ? expect benefit self This is the negation of the assumption that the argument makes.

   4%
4. D

   Irrelevant Comparison5% picked this

   presumes, without justification, that examples of people acting in ways that are not personally beneficial greatly outnumber examples of people acting in

   The evidence states that people sometimes act in ways that are not personally beneficial. The argument doesn't depend on any assumption that there are more examples of this than examples of people acting in ways that are personally beneficial.

   5%
5. E

   Correct86% picked this

   fails to consider that people acting in ways that result in no personal benefit may nonetheless have expected that acting in those

   Why this is right

   "Fails to consider" means this answer describes something that should weaken the argument. This answer negates the assumption that, if a person's action does not benefit them, they were not expecting the action to benefit them. In other words, the argument assumes "if not X then not Y." This answer choice is saying, "if not X, Y might still be true."

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

   86%