Zarrolou wrote:
1) People who have political power tend to see new technologies as a means of extending or protecting their power, whereas they generally see new ethical arguments and ideas as a threat to it. Therefore, technical ingenuity usually brings benefits to those who have this ingenuity, whereas ethical inventiveness brings only pain to those who have this inventiveness.
Which one of the following statements, if true, most strengthens the argument?
(A) Those who offer new ways of justifying current political power often reap the benefits of their own innovations.
(B) Politically powerful people tend to reward those who they believe are useful to them and to punish those who they believe are a threat.
(C) Ethical inventiveness and technical ingenuity are never possessed by the same individuals
(D) New technologies are often used by people who strive to defeat those who currently have political power.
(E) Many people who possess ethical inventiveness conceal their novel ethical arguments for fear of retribution by the politically powerful.
Explanation:Points found from the argument are:
1) People with political power consider new technologies favorable and they treat new ethical ideas as threat.
2) Technical ingenuity brings benefits to those who have this ingenuity.
3) Ethical inventiveness brings only pain to those who have this inventiveness.
From these points, we can see that
(i) “Technical ingenuity is favorable to politically powerful people” and “people with technical ingenuity are benefited” could be correlated.
(ii) “Ethical arguments are threats to politically powerful people” and “people with ethical inventiveness are mistreated” could be correlated.
(iii) Common factor in the above two points is “politically powerful people”.
A) This statement has nothing to do with the conclusion of the argument. Wrong.
B) Correct. This statement clearly links the points (1), (ii), and (iii) above, and thus the statement strengthens the argument.
C) This statement may or may not be true. However, this statement has nothing to do with the conclusion of the argument. Wrong.
D) This statement does not affect the conclusion of the argument. Wrong.
E) This statement may or may not be true. But, this statement does not affect the conclusion of the argument. If the people hide their ethical inventiveness, they would not get pain through their ethical inventiveness. Wrong.
Correct Answer is B.