Read the following passage and match each scholar's argument regarding the Pleistocene megafauna extinction to an unstated assumption upon which their argument necessarily depends.
Scholars debate the primary cause of the Pleistocene megafauna extinction. Dr. Aris argues that overhunting by early human populations was the sole cause, pointing to the correlation between human arrival and animal decline. Dr. Baines contends that sudden global climate change destroyed the megafauna's habitats, leading to widespread starvation. Finally, Dr. Calloway hypothesizes that a catastrophic disease was spread by domestic animals brought by humans, noting that many megafauna species died out simultaneously without signs of hunting trauma or starvation.
- Dr. Aris's argument (Overhunting)Early human populations possessed the tools and numbers necessary to decimate large animal populations.
- Dr. Baines's argument (Climate change)Megafauna species were unable to migrate to new, suitable environments or adapt quickly enough to survive the ecological shift.
- Dr. Calloway's argument (Introduced disease)The pathogens introduced were capable of cross-species infection across a wide variety of distinct megafauna.
Answer
Dr. Aris assumes early humans had the capacity to decimate megafauna; Dr. Baines assumes the megafauna could not migrate or adapt to the climate shift; Dr. Calloway assumes the introduced disease could infect many distinct species.
Each matching pair represents a specific argument and the unstated premise logically necessary for that argument to function. Dr. Aris requires humans to be capable hunters; Dr. Baines requires animals to be trapped by the climate shift; Dr. Calloway requires the disease to be highly transmissible across species boundaries.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Identifying unstated necessary assumptions for different viewpoints
Estimated Time:1m 30s