The situation has gotten worse. Unless Elizabeth goes I must go. But

Question

Competition Mode Question

The situation has gotten worse. Unless Elizabeth goes I must go. But she will not go if I stay. So we will both have to go.

What is the flaw in the reasoning above?

(A) The first claim, that the situation has gotten worse, is irrelevant.

(B) A possible course of action is overlooked.

(C) It is assumed that staying is the same as not going.

(D) The conclusion refers to a possibility that is not explicitly referred to in any of the premises.

(E) Insufficient information is given about the circumstances.

exc4libur · Answer

Ans (B)

freedom128 · Answer

1) I stay --> Eliz goes
2) I stay --> Eliz stays

Possible Conclusion: 
1) Eliz goes and I go
2) I go alone

Even if (A), (C), and (E) are all true, they are not a flaw in the argument.

(D) is wrong. The conclusion refers to a possibility that is referred to in any of the premises.

(B) is CORRECT ANSWER, because A possible course of action (second conclusion) is overlooked.

FINAL ANSWER IS (B)

eakabuah · Answer

B is the right answer.

Premise 1: Unless Elizabeth goes I must go.
Premise 2: But she will not go if I stay.
Conclusion: We will both have to go.

From Premise 1, we can form the following valid logic diagrams: Elizabeth doesn't go ----> I go, and I don't go -----> Elizabeth goes
From Premise 2, the following logic diagram can be formed: I stay (I don't go) -----> Elizabeth doesn't go, and Elizabeth goes ----->I go (I don't stay)

Possible Logic chains: 
1. I don't go -----> Elizabeth doesn't go -----> I go 
2. I don't go ----> Elizabeth goes ----->I go

We can clearly see that the conclusion drawn in the argument above is based on the logic chain 2, whereby my going (i.e. I go) is the required condition for Elizabeth to go. Hence it is valid to say we will both have to go. However, we can equally form another conclusion from logic chain 1, whereby my going (i.e. I go) is the required condition for Elizabeth not to go. So, by the author focusing only on one possible outcome out of the given premises, when there is at least one other valid outcome/conclusion that can be drawn from chain 1, the argument is subject to the flaw of overlooking other possible courses of action. Based on this, B is the right answer.

The conclusion of the argument is not hinged on the relevance or irrelevance of the first claim that the situation has gotten worse. A is therefore irrelevant to the argument.

Correct per the reasoning above.

Irrelevant. There are two options. Either I go, or I don't go. If I stay, it implies I didn't go or if Elizabeth stays, it implies she didn't go.

Incorrect as we can clearly see that the conclusion of the argument holds or is valid along logic chain 2.

Incorrect. There is adequate information leading to valid courses of action.

unraveled · Answer

How to tackle such an abstract CR argument.??
Can anyone help?!!

animagreborn · Answer

The situation has gotten worse. Unless Elizabeth goes I must go. But she will not go if I stay. So we will both have to go.

What is the flaw in the reasoning above?

In simple terms : I will go if EB does not go. EB will not go if I stay. 
Two possibilities here: 1. 
I will go and EB stays. (not a problem according to info given.) 2. 
I and EB both go

So option 2 may or may not hold true. That is the flaw. 
It overlooks other possibility (option 1)

jrk23 · Answer

can anyone please explain in detail.... unable to understand how to proceed if face this type of question.

bidskamikaze · Answer

The argument has an obvious flaw.
Unless Elizabeth goes I must go. 
But she will not go if I stay. 
(conclusion) So we will both have to go.

But looking into the argument, we can see that it is possible for author to go and for Elizabeth to stay!
In concluding "So we will both have to go", the author overlooks this possibility.

Option  (B)  A possible course of action is overlooked   is the correct choice.

VerbalBot · Answer

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The situation has gotten worse. Unless Elizabeth goes I must go. But

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The situation has gotten worse. Unless Elizabeth goes I must go. But

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