ExplanationPhilosophy student: Some objects that are considered beautiful by everyone who has observed them may not be, in fact, truly beautiful. To see that this is so, consider this: No one doubts that some objects that are appreciated by many people have aesthetic flaws that are discernible only to sophisticated observers. But even these sophisticated observers are limited by their finite intellects and experiences. Thus, an object that appears beautiful to the most sophisticated actual observers may nonetheless have subtle but severe aesthetic shortcomings that would make it appear hideous to hypothetical observers of even greater sophistication. Such an object would be ugly, regardless of any actual person's opinion.
In general, if an object ___1___, then that object ___2___.
Select for 1 and for 2 the two different options that complete the sentence in such a way that it expresses a principle on which the philosophy student's argument relies. Make only two selections, one in each column.We see that the philosophy student's argument begins with its conclusion:
Some objects that are considered beautiful by everyone who has observed them may not be, in fact, truly beautiful.
Key support for that conclusion comes from this portion of the argument:
Thus, an object that appears beautiful to the most sophisticated actual observers may nonetheless have subtle but severe aesthetic shortcomings that would make it appear hideous to hypothetical observers of even greater sophistication. Such an object would be ugly, regardless of any actual person's opinion.
We see that the philosophy student has jumped from the idea that "an object ... may have subtle but severe aesthetic shortcomings that would make it appear hideous to hypothetical observers of even greater sophistication," to the idea that "Such an object would be ugly, regardless of any actual person's opinion," and then to the conclusion "Some objects that are considered beautiful by everyone who has observed them may not be, in fact, truly beautiful."
Notice that the philosophy student has not justified those jumps. Rather, the philosophy student has simply asserted that "such an object would be ugly" and thus "may not be ... truly beautiful," as if the definition of "ugly" is "has subtle but severe aesthetic shortcomings that would make it appear hideous to hypothetical observers of even greater sophistication."
In other words, the philosophy student has defined "ugly" or "not truly beautiful" as "having shortcomings that SOMEONE would see."
Let's now go to the answer choices.
is considered beautiful by everyoneWe are looking for a principle on which the argument relies.
So, this choice is unlikely to be correct since the idea that an object "is considered beautiful by everyone" cannot logically play a role in supporting the conclusion "Some objects that are considered beautiful by everyone who has observed them may not be, in fact, truly beautiful."
After all, the conclusion is about objects that are considered beautiful by only some people, "everyone who has observed them," and no part of the argument involves objects "considered beautiful by everyone."
is thought by most observers to have some aesthetic flawsThe argument does not involve objects "not widely appreciated by unsophisticated observers." Rather, it's about objects that "are appreciated by many people" but "have aesthetic flaws that are discernible only to sophisticated observers."
So, it appears unlikely that this choice will work.
would appear hideous to hypothetical observers of even greater sophistication than the most sophisticated actual observersThis choice is likely to work since the argument is about an object that "may have subtle but severe aesthetic shortcomings that would make it appear hideous to hypothetical observers of even greater sophistication."
is not truly beautifulThis choice is likely to work since the conclusion of the argument is about objects that "may not be, in fact, truly beautiful.."
is not widely appreciated by unsophisticated observersThe argument does not involve objects "not widely appreciated by unsophisticated observers." Rather, it's about objects that "are appreciated by many people" but "have aesthetic flaws that are discernible only to sophisticated observers."
So, it appears unlikely that this choice will work.
Our two best choices are "would appear hideous to hypothetical observers of even greater sophistication than the most sophisticated actual observers" and "is not truly beautiful."
If we drop them into the blanks in the sentence we have to complete, we get the following:
In general, 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.We see that, completed in that way, the sentence does indeed state a principle on which the argument relies. After all, in making the jump from "an object ... may have subtle but severe aesthetic shortcomings that would make it appear hideous to hypothetical observers of even greater sophistication" to the idea that "Such an object would be ugly, regardless of any actual person's opinion," and finally to the conclusion that "Some objects that are considered beautiful by everyone who has observed them may not be, in fact, truly beautiful," the philosophy student has relied on the principle that "In general, 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."
Correct Answer: would appear hideous to hypothetical observers of even greater sophistication than the most sophisticated actual observers, is not truly beautiful