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24 Oct 2024, 00:15
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A
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
95%
(hard)
Question Stats:
38% (02:24) correct
62%
(03:06)
wrong
based on 109
sessions
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Philosopher: No person who adheres to the doctrines of Michel Foucault can fully accept the post-structuralist theories of Jacques Lacan, and full acceptance of Lacan's theories is necessary for understanding deconstructionist philosophy. It follows that any person who does not understand deconstructionist philosophy adheres to the doctrines of Foucault.
The pattern of logic displayed in the philosopher's argument above is most similar to that displayed by which of the following arguments?
A. Every baseball player whose natural position is right fielder lacks exceptional running speed, and exceptional running speed is required to become a great base-stealer. It follows that the natural position of any baseball player who is not a great base-stealer is right fielder.
B. Any existentialist that does not follow the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche must believe in the Christian existentialism espoused by Soren Kierkegaard, and a belief in Kierkegaardian existentialism is necessary for an existentialist to reconcile his life with his work as a philosopher. It follows that any existentialist philosopher who cannot reconcile his life with his work does not follow the philosophy of Nietzsche.
C. No performer who sings off-key or off-tempo will be selected for a leading role in a Broadway musical, and selection for a leading role in a Broadway musical invariably leads to stardom. It follows that any performer who has achieved stardom does not sing off-key or off-tempo.
D. Not all employees of the U.S. Postal Service work outside, and working outside is essential for a person to develop a sunny disposition. It follows that any person who has developed a sunny disposition is not an employee of the U.S. Postal Service.
E. No poet who excels in writing lyric poetry also writes extraordinary blank verse, and writing extraordinary blank verse is necessary for a poet to be named poet laureate. It follows that any poet who excels in writing lyric poetry will not be named poet laureate.
The pattern of logic displayed in the philosopher's argument above is most similar to that displayed by which of the following arguments?
A. Every baseball player whose natural position is right fielder lacks exceptional running speed, and exceptional running speed is required to become a great base-stealer. It follows that the natural position of any baseball player who is not a great base-stealer is right fielder.
B. Any existentialist that does not follow the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche must believe in the Christian existentialism espoused by Soren Kierkegaard, and a belief in Kierkegaardian existentialism is necessary for an existentialist to reconcile his life with his work as a philosopher. It follows that any existentialist philosopher who cannot reconcile his life with his work does not follow the philosophy of Nietzsche.
C. No performer who sings off-key or off-tempo will be selected for a leading role in a Broadway musical, and selection for a leading role in a Broadway musical invariably leads to stardom. It follows that any performer who has achieved stardom does not sing off-key or off-tempo.
D. Not all employees of the U.S. Postal Service work outside, and working outside is essential for a person to develop a sunny disposition. It follows that any person who has developed a sunny disposition is not an employee of the U.S. Postal Service.
E. No poet who excels in writing lyric poetry also writes extraordinary blank verse, and writing extraordinary blank verse is necessary for a poet to be named poet laureate. It follows that any poet who excels in writing lyric poetry will not be named poet laureate.
03 Nov 2024, 01:15
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Bunuel
Princeton Review Official Explanation
Conclusion: It follows that any person who does not understand deconstructionist philosophy adheres to the doctrines of Foucault.
Premise: No person who adheres to the doctrines of Michel Foucault can fully accept the post-structuralist theories of Jacques Lacan, and full acceptance of Lacan's theories is necessary for understanding deconstructionist philosophy.
This is an ID the Reasoning question, as evidenced by the phrase The pattern of logic...is most similar to that displayed by which of the following arguments. The passage uses the premises No person who adheres to the doctrines of Michel Foucault can fully accept the post-structuralist theories of Jacques Lacan, and full acceptance of Lacan's theories is necessary for understanding deconstructionist philosophy to conclude erroneously that any person who does not understand deconstructionist philosophy adheres to the doctrines of Foucault.
The argument contains a causality reasoning pattern. Translate the argument into variables to apply the logic to each answer choice. The passage is structured to state that no F can be L and every D is an L, so one who is not a D must be an F. Evaluate the answer choices, looking for one that reflects this idea.
Choice A: Correct. Translated into variables, this choice states that no RF can be RS and every BS is RS, so one who is not BS must be an RF, which matches the structure of the philosopher’s argument.
Choice B: No. This choice describes something the argument did not do. Translated into variables, this choice states that anyone who is not an FN must be an SK, and anyone who can reconcile his L & W is an SK, so one who cannot reconcile his L & W cannot be an FN.
Choice C: No. This choice describes something the argument did not do. Translated into variables, this choice states that no OK or OT will be LR, and LR will be S, so any S is not OK or OT.
Choice D: No. This choice describes something the argument did not do. Translated into variables, this choice states that not all PS work O, and all SD work O, so no SD is a PS.
Choice E: No. This choice describes something the argument did not do. Translated into variables, this choice states that no LP is BV, and all PL are BV, so no LP will be PL.
The correct answer is choice A.
03 Nov 2024, 06:18
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The answer is A.
Breakdown of the Original Argument:
Premise 1: No person who adheres to Foucault’s doctrines can fully accept Lacan’s theories.
Premise 2: Full acceptance of Lacan’s theories is necessary for understanding deconstructionist philosophy.
Conclusion: Any person who does not understand deconstructionist philosophy adheres to Foucault’s doctrines.
This argument uses a contrapositive logic structure, implying that if someone does not meet a necessary condition, they must meet an alternative condition.
(A) Every baseball player whose natural position is right fielder lacks exceptional running speed, and exceptional running speed is required to become a great base-stealer. It follows that the natural position of any baseball player who is not a great base-stealer is right fielder.
Correct. This option mirrors the original argument's structure. It states that if a baseball player is not a great base-stealer (not meeting a necessary condition), then their natural position must be right fielder (adhering to an alternative condition). The pattern matches the philosopher’s reasoning.
(B) Any existentialist that does not follow the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche must believe in the Christian existentialism espoused by Soren Kierkegaard, and a belief in Kierkegaardian existentialism is necessary for an existentialist to reconcile his life with his work as a philosopher. It follows that any existentialist philosopher who cannot reconcile his life with his work does not follow the philosophy of Nietzsche.
Incorrect. While this option has some similarities to the original argument, it deviates in its logical structure. The original argument states that lacking a certain attribute (understanding deconstructionist philosophy) implies adherence to an alternative (Foucault's doctrines). Here, the argument does not match that pattern perfectly because it mixes necessary and sufficient conditions differently. The conclusion in this option does not follow a clear contrapositive reasoning like the original.
(C) No performer who sings off-key or off-tempo will be selected for a leading role in a Broadway musical, and selection for a leading role in a Broadway musical invariably leads to stardom. It follows that any performer who has achieved stardom does not sing off-key or off-tempo.
Incorrect. This statement implies that achieving stardom is conditional on not singing off-key or off-tempo. However, this option takes a different approach, focusing on performers who have achieved stardom rather than using contrapositive reasoning. The original argument uses the idea of lacking an understanding as evidence of adhering to an alternative belief. This option focuses on attributes related to achieving a status (stardom), making it a different kind of logical structure.
(D) Not all employees of the U.S. Postal Service work outside, and working outside is essential for a person to develop a sunny disposition. It follows that any person who has developed a sunny disposition is not an employee of the U.S. Postal Service.
Incorrect. This option presents a flawed logical structure. The original argument states that if someone lacks the ability to understand a concept, they must adhere to a specific doctrine. In this option, it implies that people who develop a certain characteristic (a sunny disposition) are not part of a particular group (employees of the Postal Service). This type of reasoning does not align with the contrapositive logic used in the original argument.
(E) No poet who excels in writing lyric poetry also writes extraordinary blank verse, and writing extraordinary blank verse is necessary for a poet to be named poet laureate. It follows that any poet who excels in writing lyric poetry will not be named poet laureate.
Incorrect. This option has elements of necessary conditions similar to the original argument but differs in its reasoning. The original argument makes a contrapositive deduction: not meeting a condition (understanding deconstructionist philosophy) means fulfilling an alternative (adhering to Foucault). This option, however, simply states that poets excelling in one area cannot achieve a particular status (being named poet laureate). It lacks the contrapositive step where failing to meet one condition implies meeting another.
Breakdown of the Original Argument:
Premise 1: No person who adheres to Foucault’s doctrines can fully accept Lacan’s theories.
Premise 2: Full acceptance of Lacan’s theories is necessary for understanding deconstructionist philosophy.
Conclusion: Any person who does not understand deconstructionist philosophy adheres to Foucault’s doctrines.
This argument uses a contrapositive logic structure, implying that if someone does not meet a necessary condition, they must meet an alternative condition.
(A) Every baseball player whose natural position is right fielder lacks exceptional running speed, and exceptional running speed is required to become a great base-stealer. It follows that the natural position of any baseball player who is not a great base-stealer is right fielder.
Correct. This option mirrors the original argument's structure. It states that if a baseball player is not a great base-stealer (not meeting a necessary condition), then their natural position must be right fielder (adhering to an alternative condition). The pattern matches the philosopher’s reasoning.
(B) Any existentialist that does not follow the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche must believe in the Christian existentialism espoused by Soren Kierkegaard, and a belief in Kierkegaardian existentialism is necessary for an existentialist to reconcile his life with his work as a philosopher. It follows that any existentialist philosopher who cannot reconcile his life with his work does not follow the philosophy of Nietzsche.
Incorrect. While this option has some similarities to the original argument, it deviates in its logical structure. The original argument states that lacking a certain attribute (understanding deconstructionist philosophy) implies adherence to an alternative (Foucault's doctrines). Here, the argument does not match that pattern perfectly because it mixes necessary and sufficient conditions differently. The conclusion in this option does not follow a clear contrapositive reasoning like the original.
(C) No performer who sings off-key or off-tempo will be selected for a leading role in a Broadway musical, and selection for a leading role in a Broadway musical invariably leads to stardom. It follows that any performer who has achieved stardom does not sing off-key or off-tempo.
Incorrect. This statement implies that achieving stardom is conditional on not singing off-key or off-tempo. However, this option takes a different approach, focusing on performers who have achieved stardom rather than using contrapositive reasoning. The original argument uses the idea of lacking an understanding as evidence of adhering to an alternative belief. This option focuses on attributes related to achieving a status (stardom), making it a different kind of logical structure.
(D) Not all employees of the U.S. Postal Service work outside, and working outside is essential for a person to develop a sunny disposition. It follows that any person who has developed a sunny disposition is not an employee of the U.S. Postal Service.
Incorrect. This option presents a flawed logical structure. The original argument states that if someone lacks the ability to understand a concept, they must adhere to a specific doctrine. In this option, it implies that people who develop a certain characteristic (a sunny disposition) are not part of a particular group (employees of the Postal Service). This type of reasoning does not align with the contrapositive logic used in the original argument.
(E) No poet who excels in writing lyric poetry also writes extraordinary blank verse, and writing extraordinary blank verse is necessary for a poet to be named poet laureate. It follows that any poet who excels in writing lyric poetry will not be named poet laureate.
Incorrect. This option has elements of necessary conditions similar to the original argument but differs in its reasoning. The original argument makes a contrapositive deduction: not meeting a condition (understanding deconstructionist philosophy) means fulfilling an alternative (adhering to Foucault). This option, however, simply states that poets excelling in one area cannot achieve a particular status (being named poet laureate). It lacks the contrapositive step where failing to meet one condition implies meeting another.
