Understanding the argument -
Some statisticians claim that the surest way to increase the overall correctness of the total set of one’s beliefs is: never change that set, except by rejecting a belief when given adequate evidence against it. - Claim of statisticians.
However, if this were the only rule one followed, then whenever one were presented with any kind of evidence, one would have to either reject some of one’s beliefs or else leave one’s beliefs unchanged. - Hypothetical conditional. Premise.
But then, over time, one could only have fewer and fewer beliefs. - Fact
Since we need many beliefs in order to survive, the statisticians’ claim must be mistaken. - supporting premise + conclusion
Option Elimination - Flaw in the argument
(A) presumes, without providing any justification, that the surest way of increasing the overall correctness of the total set of one’s beliefs must not hinder one’s ability to survive - ok. Because statisticians, while making a claim,
...
Some statisticians claim that the surest way to increase the overall correctness of the total set of one’s beliefs is: never change that set, except by rejecting a belief when given adequate evidence against it. - Claim of statisticians.
However, if this were the only rule one followed, then whenever one were presented with any kind of evidence, one would have to either reject some of one’s beliefs or else leave one’s beliefs unchanged. - Hypothetical conditional. Premise.
But then, over time, one could only have fewer and fewer beliefs. - Fact
Since we need many beliefs in order to survive, the statisticians’ claim must be mistaken. - supporting premise + conclusion
Option Elimination - Flaw in the argument
(A) presumes, without providing any justification, that the surest way of increasing the overall correctness of the total set of one’s beliefs must not hinder one’s ability to survive - ok. Because statisticians, while making a claim,
...
Statistics : Posted by Raman109 • on 13 Dec 2010, 12:08 • Replies 23 • Views 35689
.jpg)
