The 1980’s have been characterized as a period of selfish individualis

Question

The 1980’s have been characterized as a period of selfish individualism that threatens the cohesion of society. But this characterization is true of any time. Throughout history all human actions have been motivated by selfishness. When the deeper implications are considered, even the simplest “unselfish” acts prove to be instances of selfish concern for the human species.

Which one of the following is a flaw in the argument?

(A) The claim that selfishness has been present throughout history is not actually relevant to the argument.
(B) No statistical evidence is provided to show that humans act selfishly more often than act unselfishly.
(C) The argument assumes that selfishness is unique to the present age.
(D) The argument mentions only humans and does not consider the behavior of other species.
(E) The argument relies on two different uses of the term selfish.

vivesomnium · Accepted Answer

selfish individualism threatening cohesion of society indicates each individual human being being selfish - or preferring his interests over other human beings
selfish about concerns for human species means that human being are only thinking of themselves as a species and not other species or nature or anything else..therefore, this is not the same selfishness as before. this will not result in difficulty in making a society

nusmavrik · Answer

A and D OUT
C would have been a contender. But it uses "unique" --> Can change meaning
Between B and E. I dont know how to tear them.

Moreover the argument is one sided. ---> "Throughout history all human actions have been motivated by selfishness."

toshio86 · Answer

E is correct. I think it's because the sentence "period of selfish individualism that  threatens the cohesion of society " considers selfishness in terms of selfishness towards other humans (society), while the sentence "even the simplest “unselfish” acts prove to be instances of  selfish concern for the human species " refers to selfishness towards other living beings in order to protect the human species...please correct me if I'm wrong!

seekmba · Answer

I am sorry I dont get this...

both describe selfishness as something that hurts society or human species ( which to me is same)

feruz77 · Answer

B simply cannot be a contender. In the text we find the words "all human actions" but B does not strongly indicate to this assertion because a statistical evidence can give various proportions of selfish human acts to unselfish ones:

1 case: proportion of selfish human acts to unselfish ones may be 1000 to 1001, and in this case the statistical data do not to support in the original text regarding the assertion "all human actions". or

2 case: proportion of selfish human acts to unselfish ones may be 1 to 1000, and in this case one can approximate the statistical data to support the words "all human actions" in the original text.

The fact that under B it may be assumed both of the cases makes B uncertain and ambiguous. Hence, B must be repudiated.

WiziusCareers1 · Answer

(A) The claim that selfishness has been present throughout history is not actually relevant to the argument.
 Opposite to what the argument suggests.

(B) No statistical evidence is provided to show that humans act selfishly more often than they act unselfishly.
 Statistical evidence is not needed to find the flaw

(C) The argument assumes that selfishness is unique to the present age.
 Opposite to what the argument suggests.

(D) The argument mentions only humans and does not consider the behavior of other species.
 The argument is concerned only about humans, hence, the behaviour of other species is not important.

(E) The argument relies on two different uses of the term “selfish.”
 Correct answer

komalpatna · Answer

Pls elaborate how the selfish here has two meaning?

Kudoes will definatly provided for reply

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

The argument starts out using the word  “selfish”  in the usual sense—self-centered. But in the phrase  “even the simplest ‘unselfish’ acts prove to be instances of selfish concern for the human species”  it uses the term to mean altruistic. Thus, the argument is equivocating.

The answer is (E).

Hope it helps

Agarwal2003 · Answer

Can you please explain the second meaning in a bit of simple language?

The 1980’s have been characterized as a period of selfish individualis

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The 1980’s have been characterized as a period of selfish individualis

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