Four analytical arguments from different academic fields are presented below. Match each argument on the left with the logical reasoning structure or flaw in reasoning on the right that most accurately describes it.
- Geologist: Any magma chamber that experiences a rapid influx of basaltic melt exhibits a distinct harmonic tremor. The Caldera Nine chamber has not experienced a rapid influx of basaltic melt. Therefore, the Caldera Nine chamber will not exhibit a distinct harmonic tremor.Concludes that an entity lacks a characteristic solely because it lacks a condition that would have been sufficient to guarantee that characteristic.
- Conservator: If a Renaissance fresco was painted using genuine ultramarine, the binder must be egg tempera. Spectroscopic testing of the Santa Croce mural shows that its binder is not egg tempera. Thus, the Santa Croce mural was not painted using genuine ultramarine.Validly establishes that a condition does not hold by demonstrating the failure of a condition necessary for it.
- Epidemiologist: All viral pathogens capable of waterborne transmission possess a lipid-free protein capsid. Pathogen X-7 possesses a lipid-free protein capsid. Consequently, Pathogen X-7 is capable of waterborne transmission.Illicitly treats a property that is required for a certain outcome as if it were sufficient to bring about that outcome.
- Safety Inspector: Most turbine blades cast from titanium aluminide withstand rotational stress exceeding 15,000 RPM. Most turbine blades cast from titanium aluminide are susceptible to high-temperature oxidation. It follows that at least some turbine blades that withstand rotational stress exceeding 15,000 RPM are susceptible to high-temperature oxidation.Validly deduces that two attributes overlap among some members of a group from premises showing that each attribute belongs to most members of that group.
Answer
Each argument maps directly to its corresponding formal structure: the geologist's argument matches the description of inferring the absence of a feature from the absence of a sufficient condition; the conservator's argument matches the valid contrapositive inference; the epidemiologist's argument matches confusing a necessary condition for a sufficient one; and the safety inspector's argument matches the valid majority-quantifier overlap deduction.
Each pair correctly matches an argument to its exact structural form: the volcanology argument exhibits the negation of a sufficient condition; the fresco argument exhibits valid modus tollens; the pathogen argument exhibits affirming a necessary condition; and the turbine blade argument exhibits a valid overlapping majority quantifier deduction.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Parallel Logical Reasoning and Fallacy Identification
Estimated Time:1m 30s