One researcher writes, “Human beings

Answer choices

1. A

   Out of Scope: impugning historical data1% picked this

   The accuracy of the historical data cited in the argument for innate aggressiveness is

   This author implicitly accepts the prevalence of warfare in history. Nothing she says pushes back against that.

   1%
2. B

   Correct81% picked this

   The force of the concept of innateness used in the argument for innate aggressiveness is

   Why this is right

   This is basically the "define a term" answer -- the author was asking about what we mean by innate. The force of the concept, as intended by the researcher, seems to be that humans are genetically programmed to be aggressive. But the author is saying the current existence of peaceful people shows that that concept of "innate" would be too strong. However, if we adopt a weaker definition of "innate", meaning "genetically possible, or genetically likely in certain environments", then you could call pretty much every human capacity innate. "then everything we do is innate and the word has no meaning" = calling into question the force of the concept of innateness.

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

   81%
3. C

   Too Strong: no genetically based traits15% picked this

   An attempt is made to undermine the argument for innate aggressiveness by arguing that there are

   This author is never arguing the scientifically blasphemous position that "there are no genetically based traits". That would be essentially contradicting all the consensus science since Gregor Mendel & Darwin.

   15%
4. D

   Out of Scope: emotional considerations1% picked this

   An attempt is made to undermine the argument for innate aggressiveness by suggesting that it appeals to emotional

   The attempt to undermine the argument takes place in the final two sentences (following the "But"). Nothing in either of those two sentences is saying that the original argument appealed to emotional considerations.

   1%
5. E

   Too Strong: all people are peaceable1% picked this

   An attempt is made to undermine the argument for innate aggressiveness by arguing that all

   The author never committed herself to the crazy-extreme view that "all people are peaceable". The author seems to be suggesting that humans have the potential for aggressive and peaceable behavior, so to say we're innately one or the other would be silly.

   1%