Political Scientist: A thriving democracy cannot exist without a highly educated electorate. Critics of the proposed national curriculum argue that its heavy emphasis on critical thinking and media literacy is a waste of resources. But this curriculum will undeniably result in a highly educated electorate. Therefore, the adoption of this curriculum will inevitably result in a thriving democracy.
Which of the following most accurately describes a flaw in the political scientist's reasoning?
- Atakes for granted that because a societal change historically preceded democratic stability, the change must have caused that stability
- Bfails to recognize that the phrase 'thriving democracy' is used in two distinctly different senses within the argument
- Ctakes the failure to satisfy a sufficient condition as proof that a necessary condition will not be satisfied
- Dassumes that an educational curriculum beneficial for individual citizens will be equally beneficial for the nation as a whole
- infers the occurrence of a phenomenon solely from the presence of a precondition without which that phenomenon could not occurAnswer
Answer
The argument infers the occurrence of a phenomenon solely from the presence of a precondition without which that phenomenon could not occur.
The correct answer accurately describes an illegal reversal in abstract terms. The argument states that a highly educated electorate is required (a necessary precondition) for a thriving democracy. It then establishes that the curriculum will produce a highly educated electorate, and concludes this alone is enough to guarantee (infer the occurrence of) a thriving democracy. This illicitly treats a necessary condition as if it were a sufficient condition.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Illegal Reversal (Treating a Necessary Condition as Sufficient)