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Difficulty: HardParallel Conditional Logic

Consider the formal logic utilized in the following two arguments:

Argument A: A city will be selected to host the global summit only if it significantly upgrades its public transportation network. The city of Oakhaven has significantly upgraded its public transportation network. Therefore, Oakhaven will be selected to host the global summit.

Argument B: Only if a patient strictly adheres to the prescribed dietary regimen will the new therapeutic protocol be effective. The patient in Ward 4 did not strictly adhere to the prescribed dietary regimen. Therefore, the new therapeutic protocol will not be effective for this patient.

Statement: The logical structure of Argument B exactly parallels the logical structure of Argument A.

Answer: Answer

Answer

The statement is false because the two arguments differ fundamentally in their logical validity.
The statement is false because the arguments have fundamentally different logical structures. Argument A commits a Mistaken Reversal (treating the necessary condition 'upgrades network' as sufficient), while Argument B executes a logically valid Modus Tollens deduction (denying the necessary condition 'adheres to diet' to conclude the sufficient condition 'will be effective' cannot occur).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Diagram the conditional structure of Argument A.
Host Summit -> Upgrade Transit. Premise: Upgrade Transit. Conclusion: Host Summit.
To identify if Argument A is a valid deduction or a formal fallacy.
2
Evaluate the validity of Argument A.
Argument A exhibits a Mistaken Reversal. It affirms the necessary condition (upgrading transit) to improperly conclude that the sufficient condition (hosting the summit) is met.
Identifying the specific flaw is necessary to find a parallel structural match.
3
Diagram the conditional structure of Argument B.
Protocol Effective -> Adhere to Diet. Premise: Did NOT Adhere. Conclusion: Protocol NOT Effective.
To determine the formal logic pattern of the second argument.
4
Evaluate the validity of Argument B.
Argument B is a valid application of Modus Tollens (the contrapositive). It properly denies the necessary condition to conclude the sufficient condition cannot occur.
To compare its structural validity to Argument A.
5
Compare the structures to determine if they are parallel.
Since Argument A is a flawed argument (Mistaken Reversal) and Argument B is a valid argument (Modus Tollens), they are not structurally parallel.
Parallel reasoning questions require the arguments to have identical formal structures and matching validities.

Key Concept

Parallel reasoning requires identical formal structures. Two arguments cannot be logically parallel if one is structurally valid and the other is structurally flawed, regardless of surface similarities in indicator phrasing (like 'only if').
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Parallel Conditional Logic

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