PT153 S2 Q16 ExplanationArt may make the world more beautiful

Answer choices, explained

1. A

   Too Strong: solely17% picked this

   takes for granted that people should choose careers solely on the basis of how

   We know that whenever we see takes for granted / presumes / fails to establish that a Flaw answer is saying, "The author assumed that X", and so we are careful about strong language, since authors usually aren't assuming super strong ideas. This author definitely assumes that how your pay is determined (not the same as 'how much you're paid') is an important factor. But she doesn't assume that how much you're paid is the only factor, when choosing a career. Given two other career choices that pay the same amount, is this author obligated to believe that both of those career choices are equally desirable? Of course not. She could still say that one is better than the other if it's superior in terms of family benefits, travel opportunities, better commute, etc.

   17%
2. B

   Too Strong: everyone or no one1% picked this

   takes for granted that a work of art will be considered beautiful either by everyone

   Again, it says takes for granted, so again we ask ourselves, "Was the author assuming X?" This answer offers a crazy claim that no one in the real world would ever believe: a work of art will either be considered beautiful by 100% of people or by 0% of people? Our author didn't come anywhere near making that absurd claim.

   1%
3. C

   Correct73% picked this

   overlooks the possibility that one?s pay in any profession involves a certain degree

   Why this is right

   When Flaw answer choices begin with fails to consider / overlooks the possibility then, assuming the author never addressed this idea, we ask ourselves, "Would this weaken? Does this sound like an objection to the logic?" Would it hurt this argument if we said, "Hey, author --- in every profession, your pay is somewhat determined by subjective evaluation"? Sure! The author was making it seem like this was a peculiar characteristic of careers in art. She seemed to be Assuming a Difference, like were we to choose some other career then our pay would not be determined by subjective evaluations of our work.

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

   73%
4. D

   Not an Objection1% picked this

   overlooks the possibility that some artists are paid

   Because this says overlooks the possibility we can ask ourselves, "Would it weaken or sound like an objection to say 'some artists get paid very well'?" No, because the author wasn't denying the possibility that some artists make plenty of money. She was mad not at the amount that artists make but the way that amount is determined -- by someone else's subjective evaluation of the artist's work.

   1%
5. E

   Wrong Flaw: not Necessary vs. Sufficient8% picked this

   treats a criterion that must be satisfied in order for a career choice to be a good one as a criterion that will ensure

   This answer is alluding to the #1 famous flaw Necessary vs. Sufficient, in which an argument presents a conditional statement as a premise, but then tries to use that conditional rule illegally in a backwards or opposite fashion. Was there a conditional rule in the evidence? Yes, the last sentence could be a conditional rule: pay determined by subject evaluation ? unacceptable of your work If the argument were committing this flaw, then the rest of the argument would sound either like, "Bob's pay is unacceptable. Thus, he must get paid based on subjective evaluation of his work", or like, "Bob's pay isn't determined by subjective evaluation of his work. Thus, Bob's pay must be acceptable."

   8%