Some psychologists claim that, in theory, the best way to understand

Question

Some psychologists claim that, in theory, the best way to understand another person would be through deep empathy, whereby one would gain a direct and complete grasp of that person’s motivations. But suppose they are right; then there would be no way at all to achieve understanding, since it is psychologically impossible to gain a direct and complete grasp of another person’s motivations. But obviously one can understand other people; thus these psychologists are wrong.

The argument is most vulnerable to the criticism that it

(A) fails to adequately define the key phrase “deep empathy”

(B) assumes something that it later denies, resulting in a contradiction

(C) confuses a theoretically best way of accomplishing something with the only way of accomplishing it

(D) accepts a claim on mere authority, without requiring sufficient justification

(E) fails to consider that other psychologists may disagree with the psychologists cited

SVaidyaraman · Answer

Negate the conclusion

It is: It is not psychologically impossible to grasp another person's motivation but one cannot understand another person.

That is if you follow the theoretical way you cannot understand. So it is not possible to understand.

Since this question can be treated as a weaken question, select the choice that best explains the negated conclusion.

If we read Choice C as theoretically best way is the only way of accomplishing understanding, we see choice C explains it best

semwal · Answer

In theory, the best way  to understand another person would be through deep empathy.

There would be  no way at all to achieve understanding , since it is psychologically impossible to gain a direct and complete grasp of another person’s motivations.

The argument is most vulnerable to the criticism that it
(A) fails to adequately define the key phrase “deep empathy”.... .DEFINITION IS NOT REQD 
(B) assumes something that it later denies, resulting in a contradiction THERE IS NO ASSUMPTION............. 
(C) confuses a theoretically best way of accomplishing something with the only way of accomplishing it.... .CORRECT 
(D) accepts a claim on mere authority, without requiring sufficient justification........... .INCORRECT 
(E) fails to consider that other psychologists may disagree with the psychologists cited..... .IS THAT REQUIRED?

Priyanka1293 · Answer

Can some expert please comment on this?
Why is B wrong?
The argument assumes that the psychologists are right in saying that deep empathy is the way to understand and then says but this can't be done.

Jazpants · Answer

Some psychologists claim - the  best way  to understand another person would be through deep empathy, whereby one would gain a  direct and complete grasp of that person’s motivations.

Conclusion - If we follow what the psychologists claim, it would be psychologically impossible to gain a direct and complete grasp of another person’s motivations. But since we can understand other people; these psychologists are wrong.

Weaken the conclusion:

(A) fails to adequately define the key phrase “deep empathy”   - we dont need it to be defined, since we are really talking about understanding motivations and not deep empathy

(B) assumes something that it later denies, resulting in a contradiction   - there is no contradiction, as it was refuting the psychologists claim from the start and there is nothing contradicting in the conclusion

(C) confuses a theoretically best way of accomplishing something with the only way of accomplishing it   - YES. Because don't miss the "best" in what the psychologists claim. It is not the only way to understand another person, but it is the best way. However the conclusion misses the "best" and rather treats it as if the psychologists had said it was the only way.

(D) accepts a claim on mere authority, without requiring sufficient justification   - it doesn't accept any claim on authority, not relevant

(E) fails to consider that other psychologists may disagree with the psychologists cited   - not relevant at all to the conclusion

arvind910619 · Answer

Hi,

Can you explain D in detail and why it is wrong?

SudhanshuC · Answer

Answer C

The argument states the following:

Best way to understand a person = Deep Empathy

Why Deep Empathy?
To know a person’s motivation and hence to know how a person is like that

The above states that deep empathy is the best way and  NOT the ONLY way  to understand a person.

But then the author further states in the argument = .....then there would be NO way at all........  
 =   This implies that ‘Deep Empathy’ is the ONLY way as per the author now.

This is the flaw, as stated in    option C   .

egmat · Answer

What (D) claims: 
"Accepts a claim on mere authority, without requiring sufficient justification"

What this flaw means: 
An  appeal to authority  happens when an argument says: "Expert X says Y is true,  therefore  Y must be true" - with no actual reasoning provided.

Why (D) is wrong for this argument:

Look at the key phrase:  "But suppose they are right"

This is  not  accepting the psychologists' claim as true. This is setting up a  hypothetical  to test their claim.

The argument structure is:
- Psychologists claim X
-  IF  X is true → then understanding is impossible
- But understanding IS possible
-  Therefore , X must be false (psychologists are wrong)

The argument actually  rejects  the psychologists' position! That's the  opposite  of accepting authority blindly.

The actual flaw (C):

The  real error  is in this leap:
"The  best  way is impossible →  no way at all  exists"

Think of it this way:  If the fastest route to work is blocked, does that mean there's NO way to get to work? Of course not, other routes exist!

Similarly, just because  deep empathy  (the "best" method) is impossible doesn't mean  other methods  of understanding people don't exist.

Answer: C

Some psychologists claim that, in theory, the best way to understand

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Critical Reasoning (CR) Questions

Some psychologists claim that, in theory, the best way to understand

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards