Philosopher: The rational pursuit of happiness is quite different from

Question

Philosopher: The rational pursuit of happiness is quite different from always doing what one most strongly desires to do. This is because the rational pursuit of happiness must include consideration of long-term consequences, whereas our desires are usually focused on the short term. Moreover, desires are sometimes compulsions, and while ordinary desires result in at least momentary happiness when their goals are attained, compulsions strongly drive a person to pursue goals that offer no happiness even when reached.

If all of the philosopher's statements are true, each of the following could be true EXCEPT:

(A) the majority of people do not have compulsions
(B) Attaining the goal of any desire results in momentary happiness
(C) Most people do not pursue happiness rationally
(D) Most people want more than their own personal happiness 
(E) All actions have long-term consequences

Pranithare · Answer

can you please explain how should identify the answer in such questions

shubham2312 · Answer

hi,

I was able to answer option B because Premise says
 desires are sometimes compulsions

but i was not able to reject other options.

kindly provide OE for the same.

shubhtr · Answer

hi,

I was able to answer option B because Premise says
desires are sometimes compulsions

but i was not able to reject other options.

kindly provide OE for the same.

Doer01 · Answer

Hi,
 Two minutes into the question and I couldn’t relate any of the given answer choices to the premise.
There after I changed my approach and decided to select an answer choice that I can REJECT based on the information provided in the premise, since it is an except question.
(B) Attaining the goal of any desire results in momentary happiness
Could be rejected because desires could be compulsion and compulsion does not lead to happiness.

What should be one’s strategy to solve such a question in given time? <105secs?

Posted from my mobile device

nightblade354 · Answer

Philosopher: The rational pursuit of happiness is quite different from always doing what one most strongly desires to do. This is because the rational pursuit of happiness must include consideration of long-term consequences, whereas our desires are usually focused on the short term. Moreover, desires are sometimes compulsions, and while ordinary desires result in at least momentary happiness when their goals are attained, compulsions strongly drive a person to pursue goals that offer no happiness even when reached.

The key to this question is not assuming anything. It is basically a reverse inference. If it isn't stated in an inference question, we know we cannot assume it. Similarly here, if they something that isn't stated, it could very well be true. And this is how you can get to (B) in under two minutes. Three of the answers talk about people, which is never discussed. And (E) is the only one that can be tricky because it refers to terms in the passage.

If all of the philosopher's statements are true, each of the following could be true EXCEPT:

(A) the majority of people do not have compulsions --  Where are we told about numbers? We have no idea way of justifying this, so it could be true.  
(B) Attaining the goal of any desire results in momentary happiness --  Some desires --> compulsions --> Goals without happiness. Using this we know that if they say ANY goal, it has to be false and thus our correct answer.  
(C) Most people do not pursue happiness rationally --  Again, we refer to most people. This, theoretically, could be true. We have no idea how many follow this type of thinking.  
(D) Most people want more than their own personal happiness --  Same as (A) and (C) 
(E) All actions have long-term consequences --  Where are we told this? Nowhere. And similar to A, C and D, if it could be true, we cannot assume that it is or isn't possible. So we have to rule it out.

corintower · Answer

Why wouldn't it be option B?

It's already in the paragraph that achieving goals lead to momentary happiness, so how could that be false? (since the question says "True... except"

nightblade354 · Answer

“Moreover, desires are sometimes compulsions, and while ordinary desires result in at least momentary happiness when their goals are attained, compulsions strongly drive a person to pursue goals that offer no happiness even when reached.”

(B) is talking about ALL. This part of the passage clearly states that some are driven by compulsion and do not lead to happiness.

SHM95 · Answer

I believe the question in wrongfully framed. The language of the question needs to be fine-tuned.

adithya000 · Answer

(B) Attaining the goal of any desire results in momentary happiness 
 
 Here’s the trouble: The passage says ordinary desires result in happiness, but compulsions  don’t . 
 So saying  any  desire leads to happiness contradicts what was stated.
 🚫  This must be FALSE. Correct answer

Chakrawarty · Answer

Can someone explain why not D? I was confused between B and D

Philosopher: The rational pursuit of happiness is quite different from

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