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805+ Level|   Non-Math Related|               
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harshchougule


What is wrong with the answer
(1) if an object is not truely beautiful
(2) then it would appear hideous to hypothetical observers of even greater sophistication than the most sophisticated actual observers,??

I am making same mistake over and over again i am able to to the final answer but then when it ccomes to order i am messing up, what am i doing wrong??
­


Cheers ! We both made same mistake !

Well the reasoning provided by the philosopher is (1 - No object is truly beautiful ) because of the principle (2 - some hypothetically perfect level of sophistication in an observer will find some flaws ) . (2) is the evidence and (1) conclusion in simple terms.

2 is necesscary condition for 1
but
1 is not necesscary condition for 2
­

So the principle on which the philosophy student's argument relies is that:

If (2 - some hypothetically perfect level of sophisticated observer finds flaws ) happens then (1 - Object is not truly beautiful ) should happen.

Why not the other way around ?
It's not the other way around If (1 - Object is not truly beautiful ) happens then (2 - some hypothetically perfect level of sophisticated observer finds flaws ) must happen

Imagine this Even if a person with lower level of sophistication can find flaws that will render the object less beautiful too
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Hi

This looks similar to a CR Question. Recommend everyone to try the CR Question too.

https://gmatclub.com/forum/a-violin-con ... 86435.html

The concept in the CR question is contra positivity but here its is mostly deriving/arriving at conclusion

-it's Satvik-­
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Let's break down what the philosophy student is really arguing:

The main conclusion is: Objects considered beautiful by everyone may not actually be truly beautiful.

Now, here's the key reasoning chain you need to follow:

  1. Sophisticated observers can spot flaws that regular people miss
  2. But even sophisticated observers have limitations
  3. Therefore, hypothetical even more sophisticated observers might find currently "beautiful" objects hideous
  4. If these super-sophisticated observers would find it hideous, then it's truly ugly (not beautiful)

Here's what you need to see: The argument is establishing that the aesthetic judgment of hypothetical super-sophisticated observers determines true beauty or ugliness. That's the underlying principle.

Now let's match this to the if-then structure:

The question asks: "If an object 1___, then that object 2___"

Part 1 (the condition): What triggers the principle?
Look at the argument's key move - it's when an object "would appear hideous to hypothetical observers of even greater sophistication." That's your Choice C for Part 1.

Part 2 (the consequence): What follows from that condition?
If those super-sophisticated observers would find it hideous, then the object "is not truly beautiful." That's your Choice D for Part 2.

Together, the principle reads: "If an object would appear hideous to hypothetical observers of even greater sophistication than the most sophisticated actual observers, then that object is not truly beautiful."

This is exactly what the argument assumes - that hypothetical super-sophisticated judgment = objective aesthetic truth.

Why not the other choices?

Choice A ("is considered beautiful by everyone") might seem tempting because it's mentioned in the passage, but notice that the argument isn't saying universal approval leads to true beauty. Rather, it's saying hypothetical sophisticated disapproval determines true ugliness.

Choice B talks about what "most observers" think, but the core principle isn't about actual observers - it's specifically about hypothetical super-sophisticated ones.

Choice E brings in unsophisticated observers, but the argument doesn't establish any principle about them.

Answer: Part 1 = C, Part 2 = D

---

While this explanation walks you through this specific question, understanding the systematic framework for identifying principles in CR arguments - especially distinguishing between stated premises vs. assumed logical bridges - is crucial for consistent accuracy. You can check out the complete solution framework on Neuron by e-GMAT to master how to systematically deconstruct arguments and identify underlying principles. You can also explore detailed solutions for other GMAT official questions on Neuron with comprehensive explanations and analytics to strengthen your CR skills.

Hope this helps!
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