Ques from 1000CR doc

Some statisticians claim that the surest way to increase the overall correctness of the total set of oneтАЩs beliefs is: never change that set, except by rejecting a belief when given adequate evidence against it. However, if this were the only rule one followed, then whenever one were presented with any kind of evidence, one would have to either reject some of oneтАЩs beliefs or else leave oneтАЩs beliefs unchanged. But then, over time, one could only have fewer and fewer beliefs. Since we need many beliefs in order to survive, the statisticiansтАЩ claim must be mistaken.

The argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it

(A) presumes, without providing any justification, that the surest way of increasing the overall correctness of the total set of oneтАЩs beliefs must not hinder oneтАЩs ability to survive
(B) neglects the possibility that even while following the statisticiansтАЩ rule, one might also accept new beliefs when presented with some kinds of evidence
(C) overlooks the possibility that some large sets of beliefs are more correct overall than are some small sets of beliefs
(D) takes for granted that one should accept some beliefs related to survival even when given adequate evidence against them
(E) takes for granted that the beliefs we need in order to have many beliefs must all be correct beliefs

I'm gonna go with B.

The statisticians claim never said anything about notbeing able to add new beliefs.

hsgmat,

Your questions are hurting my brain. =). The scope shift occurs in the last statement.

a) Out of scope
b) No
c) Out of scope
d) No

I believe the answer should be E. In order for the argument to be viable, the original beliefs must be all correct.

B it is.
_________________

hey ya......