Below are three original causal arguments and three parallel arguments that exhibit identical logical reasoning structures. Pair each original argument on the left with the argument on the right that most closely parallels its specific method of causal reasoning.
- Cities with the highest density of fire stations also report the most fire-related property damage. Clearly, the presence of fire stations causes an increase in fire-related property damage.Municipalities that hire the most police officers have the highest rates of violent crime. It must be the case, then, that hiring more police officers causes an increase in violent crime.
- People who drink diet soda tend to gain more weight than those who do not. However, people who are already struggling with weight gain are significantly more likely to consume diet soda as a corrective measure. Therefore, a pre-existing struggle with weight, rather than diet soda consumption, explains the weight gain.Athletes who use compression sleeves report higher rates of joint pain than those who do not. However, athletes who already suffer from joint discomfort are much more likely to use compression sleeves to alleviate their symptoms. Thus, the pre-existing discomfort, not the use of compression sleeves, accounts for the pain.
- Since the factory installed new air filters, respiratory complaints among workers have dropped by half. This cannot be due to the recently introduced mandatory exercise program, because only management participated in the exercise program, yet complaints dropped evenly among assembly line workers. Thus, the new air filters caused the reduction in complaints.Following the introduction of a new pesticide, the orchard's apple yield increased by thirty percent. This improvement cannot be due to the new irrigation system, because the irrigation system was only installed in the peach orchards. Hence, the new pesticide is responsible for the improved apple yield.
Answer
The original argument about fire stations pairs with the argument about police officers. The argument about diet soda pairs with the argument about compression sleeves. The argument about factory air filters pairs with the argument about the orchard pesticide.
The correct pairings match arguments based on identical causal frameworks: assuming reverse causation (fire stations / police), introducing a pre-existing common cause to defeat a causal claim (diet soda / compression sleeves), and ruling out alternative explanations to strengthen a causal claim (air filters / pesticide).
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Parallel Causal Reasoning