Logical Reasoning

PT159 · S3 · Q14 Generally, open discussion of a false and pernicious idea

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Generally, open discussion of a false and pernicious idea diminishes its appeal.

Task

The uncommon stem makes this question hard to categorize. "Which of the following principles" is common phrasing for both Principle Strengthen and Principle Conform, but "most clearly illustrated by the statements above" is more typical of Proposition / Generalization questions, a subtype of Most Supported. The task for that subtype is to extract a proposition / generalization / principle from the reading, which often feels like articulating the "moral of the story." That will be the task for this question.

Given

Generally, open discussion of bad and dangerous ideas makes them less appealing. However, even in democracies, certain bad ideas are so attractive that they get more appealing when they are discussed openly.

Evaluate

Proposition / Generalization questions often revolve around an important pivot word that creates tension in the stimulus. Our job is to find an answer that does the best job articulating that tension. Our first claim is something that is generally true: open discussion lessens the appeal of wrong ideas. After the pivot (however), we get tension in the form of an exception: some bad ideas are so appealing they get more attractive when debated.

Goal

Look for an answer that articulates that tension. Beware strong language, new ideas, and unsupported relationships. Lean towards the weakest, most provable answer.

14.

Which one of the following principles is most clearly illustrated by the statements above?

  1. Democratic governments should be allowed

    Unsupported Recommendation: governments should

    Whenever a Most Supported answer presents a recommendation, be skeptical! If the stimulus didn't say that specific party should act in that specific way, the answer is almost certainly wrong. Additionally, the stimulus expresses a tension surrouding open debate, but it doesn't suggest how we should respond to that tension. This answer is too speculative because it recommends a specific, unsupported response.

    2% picked this

  2. Sometimes it is better to

    Unsupported Comparison: Sometimes it is better

    Whenever a Most Supported answer presents a comparison, be skeptical! If the stimulus didn't compare those two specific things on that one specific metric, the answer is probably wrong. Additionally, this answer has a similar problem as Answer Choice A: the stimulus expresses a tension surrouding open debate, but it doesn't suggest how we should respond to that tension. This answer is too speculative because it suggests one response is better than some unnamed alternative.

    13% picked this

  3. Not all pernicious ideas are

    Unsupported Relationship: pernicious ideas / misconceptions

    The weak degree of "not all" is attractive in Most Supported questions because it only requires one data point to prove. So, we ask ourselves: does this stimulus prove that there is at least one pernicious idea that is not a misconception? Nope. The only pernicious idea mentioned in the stimlus is "false and pernicious" which is by definition a misconception. While Answer Choice C may be true in real life, that doesn't mean it is well supported by this stimulus.

    4% picked this

  4. Correct

    Discussion and debate do not

    Why this is right

    This articulates the tension expressed in the stimulus and sounds like the "moral of the story" we're being told.

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

    69% picked this

  5. One of the reasons some

    Unsupported Causal Relationship: false / appealing

    The weak degree of "one of the reasons" and "some ideas" are both appealing in a Most Supported question because they only require one data point to prove. So, we ask ourselves: does this stimulus prove that there is at least one appealing idea that is appealing because it's false? Nope. We're told that certain false ideas are appealing, but we can't infer the Causal Relationship that they are appealing because of their falsity. Whenever a Most Supported answer presents a causal relationship, be skeptical and investigate it!

    12% picked this

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