Corporate Strategist: Our firm's new expansion plan is guaranteed to achieve unprecedented commercial success over the next decade. We know this because any strategic initiative that establishes absolute market dominance in high-growth sectors inevitably delivers exceptional long-run profitability. Furthermore, achieving unprecedented commercial success is itself the essential defining feature of establishing absolute market dominance in these sectors. Therefore, the plan's financial objectives will certainly be realized.
Which of the following best describes the flaw in the corporate strategist's reasoning?
- It treats a claim that merely restates the desired outcome in different terms as an independent premise supporting that outcome.Answer
- BIt confuses an intermediate goal of the expansion plan with its ultimate long-term strategic objective.
- CIt assumes without evidence that broader macroeconomic conditions will remain stable throughout the ten-year period.
- DIt mistakes a condition that is necessary for achieving market dominance for one that is sufficient to guarantee it.
- EIt draws an ungrounded comparison between the current expansion plan and successful strategies implemented by competing firms.
Answer
The argument commits circular reasoning by assuming the truth of its conclusion within its premises, rephrasing 'unprecedented commercial success' as 'establishing absolute market dominance' to justify its claim.
The strategist attempts to prove that the plan will achieve 'unprecedented commercial success' by asserting that market dominance leads to profitability, and then defining 'market dominance' as 'unprecedented commercial success'. Because the premise simply restates the conclusion in synonymous terms, the argument assumes the very point in question without offering independent justification.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Circular Reasoning (Begging the Question)