Plant Physiologist: Whenever an alpine coniferous forest experiences severe drought stress during the early growing season, the concentration of abscisic acid in the foliage of those conifers rises significantly. Foliar chemical assays conducted on mature spruce stands across the northern mountain range this spring revealed elevated concentrations of abscisic acid. Therefore, these northern spruce stands must have endured severe drought stress during this spring's early growing season.
The reasoning in the plant physiologist's argument is flawed because the argument
- Adisputes the accuracy of the foliar chemical assays without citing empirical data to contradict the laboratory findings
- Bdraws a sweeping generalization about an entire forest ecosystem based solely on observations of a single, non-representative plant species
- infers that a specific environmental stressor occurred merely from the presence of a physiological marker that the stressor is known to produceAnswer
- Dmistakes an intermediate finding concerning foliar hormone levels for the primary conclusion of the investigation
- Eoverlooks the possibility that conifers in high-altitude environments never exhibit baseline levels of abscisic acid under normal conditions
Answer
The argument is flawed because it concludes that a particular cause was present simply because an effect associated with that cause was observed.
The argument establishes that early severe drought stress leads to elevated abscisic acid in conifers. However, discovering elevated abscisic acid only proves that the outcome occurred; it does not establish that drought stress was the only possible cause. The author erroneously concludes that drought stress must have occurred, committing the fallacy of affirming the consequent.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Conditional Reversal (Affirming the Consequent)
Estimated Time:1m 15s