Bunuel wrote:
The school principal insisted that student failures are caused by bad teaching. In a relatively short period time failing grades disappeared from the school. The principal happily announced that the teaching had improved.
The flawed pattern of reasoning in the above is most similar to that in which one of the following?
A. The nutritionist insisted that the weight gain that the team members complained of was caused by overeating. In a brief time all the members stopped overeating. The nutritionist was pleased to conclude that they had stopped gaining weight.
B. The manager insisted that the workers who filed complaints had too many different tasks. The manager simplified the jobs and complains stopped. The manager happily concluded that the working environment had been improved.
C. The nutritionist insisted that the weight gain that team members complained of was merely in their imagination. Members were given weight charts for the last three months. The nutritionist was pleased to conclude that the complaints of weight gain had stopped.
D. The manager insisted that the workers who filed complaints did not have rnough to do. Soon there was no more complaints filed. The manager was pleased to conclude that the workers were now productively filling their time.
E. The nutritionist insisted that the weight gain that team members complained of was caused by their thinking of food too often. The nutrionist was happy to conclude that the weight gain had stopped once the team members reported that they stopped thinking about food too often.
Pattern of reasoning:
A (bad teaching) causes B (student failures).
B disappeared quickly. (failures disappeared in a short span)
This implies that A disappeared (bad teaching disappeared and teaching got better)
A. The nutritionist insisted that the weight gain that the team members complained of was caused by overeating. In a brief time all the members stopped overeating. The nutritionist was pleased to conclude that they had stopped gaining weight.
A (overeating) causes B (weight gain)
A stopped suddenly.
This implies that B stopped
Not the same logic
B. The manager insisted that the workers who filed complaints had too many different tasks. The manager simplified the jobs and complaints stopped. The manager happily concluded that the working environment had been improved.
A (different tasks) causes B (complaints)
A stopped (different tasks stopped. They were simplified)
...
Not the same logic
C. The nutritionist insisted that the weight gain that team members complained of was merely in their imagination. Members were given weight charts for the last three months. The nutritionist was pleased to conclude that the complaints of weight gain had stopped.
A (imagination) caused B (weight gain)
A was taken away (by giving actual data)
...
Not the same logic
D. The manager insisted that the workers who filed complaints did not have enough to do. Soon there was no more complaints filed. The manager was pleased to conclude that the workers were now productively filling their time.
A (not enough to do) caused B (filing of complaints)
B stopped soon (no more complaints filed)
It implies that A stopped (workers got enough to do. They started using time productively)
SAME LOGIC!!
E. The nutritionist insisted that the weight gain that team members complained of was caused by their thinking of food too often. The nutrionist was happy to conclude that the weight gain had stopped once the team members reported that they stopped thinking about food too often.
A (thinking of food too often) caused B (weight gain)
A stopped.
B stopped.
Not the same logic
Answer (D)
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