Ecologist: A forest ecosystem is truly stable only if it contains a highly diverse network of mycorrhizal fungi. Recent soil analyses confirm that the newly protected Blackwood Reserve contains one of the most highly diverse networks of mycorrhizal fungi ever documented in the region. Therefore, we can confidently conclude that the Blackwood Reserve is a stable forest ecosystem.
Which one of the following most accurately describes a flaw in the ecologist's reasoning?
- AIt presumes, without providing justification, that a causal relationship exists between fungal diversity and environmental stability.
- BIt infers that a larger percentage of fungal diversity inherently equates to a greater absolute number of fungal organisms in the reserve.
- CIt relies on an ambiguous use of the term "stable" when describing the condition of the forest ecosystem.
- It treats a condition that is required for a forest ecosystem to be stable as a condition that guarantees the stability of that ecosystem.Answer
- EIt incorrectly treats a premise intended to support the main conclusion as though it were the main conclusion itself.
Answer
The argument treats a condition that is required for a forest ecosystem to be stable as a condition that guarantees the stability of that ecosystem.
The correct answer accurately identifies that the ecologist confuses a necessary condition with a sufficient condition. The first premise establishes that a highly diverse network of mycorrhizal fungi is required (a necessary condition) for a stable ecosystem. The argument then observes that the Blackwood Reserve meets this requirement and incorrectly concludes that simply meeting this requirement is enough (a sufficient condition) to guarantee that the ecosystem is stable.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Necessary vs. Sufficient Condition Flaws