Psychologist: Some have argued that Freudian psychotherapy is

Question

Psychologist:  Some have argued that Freudian psychotherapy is the most effective kind because it is so difficult and time consuming. But surely this does not follow. Similar reasoning---e.g., concluding that a car-repair chain has the most effective technique for repairing cars because the cars it services receive so much work and spend so much time in the shop--would never be accepted.

The reasoning technique employed by the psychologist is that of attempting to undermine an argument by:

(A) introducing a principle that contradicts the one on which the argument is based 
(B) questioning the truth of its premises 
(C) presenting an analogous argument whose conclusion is thought to be obviously false 
(D) claiming that the argument is based on a false analogy 
(E) suggesting that a supposed cause of a phenomenon is actually an effect of that phenomenon

siddhantvarma · Answer

The method of reasoning uses an analogy, comparing this reasoning to concluding that a car-repair chain has the most effective repair technique because cars spend a lot of time in the shop. The psychologist suggests that just because something takes a lot of time (either psychotherapy or car repair) does not mean it is the most effective.

A) Introducing a principle that contradicts the one on which the argument is based
 The psychologist does not introduce a contradictory principle, but rather an analogy.

B) Questioning the truth of its premises
 The psychologist does not directly question the truth of the premises (e.g., whether Freudian psychotherapy is time-consuming), but instead attacks the reasoning.

C) Presenting an analogous argument whose conclusion is thought to be obviously false
 This is correct. The psychologist presents an analogy about car repair to show that the original argument (time-consuming therapy is most effective) leads to an obviously false conclusion (time-consuming car repair is most effective), thus undermining the original reasoning.

D) Claiming that the argument is based on a false analogy
 The psychologist does not claim the original argument is a false analogy; rather, they introduce a new analogy to demonstrate the flaw in reasoning.

E) Suggesting that a supposed cause of a phenomenon is actually an effect of that phenomenon
 There is no mention of a supposed cause being confused with an effect in this argument.:

The correct answer is C)   presenting an analogous argument whose conclusion is thought to be obviously false. This is the reasoning technique the psychologist uses to undermine the original argument.

Psychologist: Some have argued that Freudian psychotherapy is

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Psychologist: Some have argued that Freudian psychotherapy is

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