Anthropologist: All music is based on a few main systems of scale

Question

Anthropologist: All music is based on a few main systems of scale building. Clearly, if the popularity of a musical scale were a result of social conditioning, we would expect, given the diversity of social systems, a diverse mixture of diatonic and non-diatonic scales in the world’s music. Yet diatonic scales have always dominated the music of most of the world. Therefore, the popularity of diatonic music can be attributed only to innate dispositions of the human mind.

The anthropologist’s argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it fails to

(A) consider the possibility that some people appreciate non-diatonic music more than they do diatonic music
(B) explain how innate dispositions increase appreciation of non-diatonic music
(C) explain the existence of diatonic scales as well as the existence of non-diatonic scales
(D) consider that innate dispositions and social conditioning could jointly affect the popularity of a type of music
(E) consider whether any appreciation of non-diatonic music is demonstrated by some nonhuman species of animals

AnuK2222 · Answer

Answer is D
conclusion: " the popularity of diatonic music can be attributed  only  to innate dispositions of the human mind."
Option D points out the flaw that innate dispositions need not be the only cause for popularity

maahi1234 · Answer

Anthropologist: All music is based on a few main systems of scale building. Clearly, if the popularity of a musical scale were a result of social conditioning, we would expect, given the diversity of social systems, a diverse mixture of diatonic and non-diatonic scales in the world’s music. Yet diatonic scales have always dominated the music of most of the world. Therefore, the popularity of diatonic music can be attributed only to innate dispositions of the human mind.

The anthropologist’s argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it fails to

(A) consider the possibility that some people appreciate non-diatonic music more than they do diatonic music
(B) explain how innate dispositions increase appreciation of non-diatonic music
(C) explain the existence of diatonic scales as well as the existence of non-diatonic scales
(D) consider that innate dispositions and social conditioning could jointly affect the popularity of a type of music
(E) consider whether any appreciation of non-diatonic music is demonstrated by some nonhuman species of animals

can somebody explain why not A in this question ??

iamyogi25 · Answer

Hi.. I believe A is already stated in the argument:" Yet diatonic scales have always dominated the music of most of the world" This implies that there are certain people who love non-diatonic music. So, that is not a logical flaw.

PamSarti · Answer

Could anyone please explain why it wouldnt be B?

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Hello PamSarti

The argument ignores that both factors could be at play together. Maybe innate disposition gives a baseline preference for diatonic scales, but social conditioning can still modify that preference locally and yet overall, diatonic still dominates because the innate part is strong. The anthropologist treats them as mutually exclusive explanations.

(B)  is not needed; the argument is about diatonic popularity, not explaining appreciation of non-diatonic.

Anthropologist: All music is based on a few main systems of scale

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Anthropologist: All music is based on a few main systems of scale

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