Logical Reasoning

PT154 · S1 · Q16 The prevailing view among historians

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The prevailing view among historians is that medieval European peasants were deeply dedicated to religion.

Conclusion

There is reason to doubt the prevailing view of peasants' piety. (i.e., not so sure that medieval peasants were deeply dedicated to religion)

Evidence

The record keepers of medieval Europe were clergymen. And it would be in their professional interest to embellish how religiously devoted people were.

Evaluate

Given That our source of records of medieval times are clergy members who are biased in favor of exaggerating people's religious devotion,

How Can We Argue That this is no reason to doubt the religious devotion of the medieval peasants (i.e., that the peasants really were religiously devoted)?

Goal

We either want an answer making us less skeptical of the accuracy of the clergy's record keeping (it would have been a sin for them to embellish the truth) or an answer that just independently helps us believe that peasants really were religiously devoted.

16.

Which one of the following, if true, would most weaken the argument above?

Among the written records produced
Too Weak
This almost hints at an objection like, "Hey ... the clergy's records weren't biased -- look, they include nonreligious details as well." But that's not much of a counterpunch. Even though they would have details of nonreligious life, that doesn't really allay our concern that they would still exaggerate how devoted people were to religious life.
21% picked this
Many members of the clergy
Too Weak
This helps us feel more like, "at least many clergy members were well acquainted with the peasants! So their records are informed by personal exposure?" But that doesn't allay the author's concern that the clergy would still present the records in a way that exaggerates the religious devotion of the peasants. This answer might make us feel more like the clergy knew the truth about the peasants, but doesn't do anything to counter the author's concern that the clergy might not report the truth about the peasants, in regards to religious fervor.
5% picked this
Correct
Written records produced by clergy
Why this is right
This provides some evidence of lack of bias. The clergy would presumably have been just as motivated to exaggerate the religious devotion of higher classes of citizenry as well. It wouldn't help the clergy maintain its power to only show that the lowest class was into religion. The clergy would want to make it seem like the whole society is into religion, thus cementing their central role in society. So the fact that clergy records very rarely say that the upper classes were devoted to religion gives them more credibility. If a Republican politician were praising Trump for action X and someone was like, "We shouldn't trust your praise. You're motivated to praise him because pleasing his base helps you stay in power", then it would be a powerful counterpunch to say, "Look, I vocally opposed Trump on actions W, Y, and Z." If the clergy were willing to tell the unpalatable (to them) truth that the upper classes weren't very religious, it gives them more credibility as a truthful record of events.
Skill tested: Weaken · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.
61% picked this
Historians cannot develop a reliable
No Impact
This is way too broad to have any impact on this specific conversation. If anything, it would just strengthen the author's view that we can't be sure that the clergy's account of religious devotion is a reliable account (we need to consult all surviving records and see if they agree).
4% picked this
Documents produced by clergy in
Unclear Impact
This doesn't really answer the author's concern that the records, which portray the peasants as deeply religious, could be kind of a lie. The fact that there are detailed descriptions doesn't suggest that they are honest, accurate descriptions.
9% picked this

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