Conservator: Any historical charter officially issued by the provincial chancery bears a double-wax seal. Most parchment documents cataloged in the municipal archive bear a double-wax seal. Thus, at least some of the parchment documents cataloged in the municipal archive must be historical charters officially issued by the provincial chancery.
Which one of the following arguments exhibits flawed reasoning most similar to that exhibited in the conservator’s argument?
- AAny imperial decree preserved in the cathedral vault contains a verified wax seal. Every document that contains a verified wax seal was prepared by a royal scribe. Hence, every imperial decree preserved in the cathedral vault was prepared by a royal scribe.
- BAny peer-reviewed study funded by the energy institute relies on computational modeling. Most research projects in the atmospheric physics department rely on computational modeling. Consequently, all research projects in the atmospheric physics department are peer-reviewed studies funded by the energy institute.
- Any clinical case verified by the central toxicology board involves elevated serum biomarkers. Most patients admitted to the acute care pavilion exhibit elevated serum biomarkers. Therefore, at least some of the patients admitted to the acute care pavilion must have clinical cases verified by the central toxicology board.Answer
- DMost software applications developed by the cybersecurity lab incorporate asymmetric encryption. Every software application developed by the cybersecurity lab complies with national privacy standards. Thus, some software applications that comply with national privacy standards incorporate asymmetric encryption.
- EMost civic ordinances drafted by the urban planning committee require environmental review. Any municipal policy that requires environmental review is subject to public comment. Thus, any municipal policy subject to public comment was drafted by the urban planning committee.
Answer
The argument concluding that at least some patients admitted to the acute care pavilion must have clinical cases verified by the central toxicology board matches the structural flaw of the stimulus.
The correct argument replicates the exact invalid structure of the stimulus. It asserts a universal rule establishing a necessary condition (All verified cases involve elevated biomarkers), notes that a majority of a second class possesses that necessary condition (Most acute care patients exhibit elevated biomarkers), and fallaciously concludes that there must be an overlap between the two classes (Some acute care patients must be verified cases). Because the two classes could occupy non-overlapping portions of the broader biomarker group, the reasoning is invalid in precisely the same manner as the stimulus.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Parallel Flaw - Affirming the Consequent via Quantifier Overlap