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Zorluk: KolayIdentifying Unstated Assumptions

Consider the following argument: A regional courier company plans to replace its gasoline-powered delivery vans with electric vehicles in order to lower its annual fuel expenditures. The company's director claims that making this fleet replacement will increase the company's net annual profit.

True or False: The director's argument depends on the unstated assumption that the cost savings from lower fuel expenditures will not be exceeded by the costs of acquiring and maintaining the electric vehicles.

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True. The argument assumes that the reduction in fuel expenses will not be negated or outweighed by the new expenses associated with electric vehicles.
The conclusion asserts a net financial gain based on reducing a single cost category (fuel). For net profit to increase, total financial benefits must outweigh total costs. If the secondary costs of electric vehicle adoption outweigh the fuel savings, the conclusion breaks down. Hence, assuming those secondary costs will not exceed fuel savings is logically necessary.

Adım Adım Çözüm

1
Identify the premise and conclusion of the argument.
Premise: Replacing gasoline vans with electric vehicles lowers annual fuel expenditures. Conclusion: The fleet replacement will increase net annual profit.
Understanding the logical jump between premise and conclusion highlights the underlying assumption.
2
Apply the Negation Test to the evaluated claim.
Negated statement: The cost savings from lower fuel expenditures WILL be exceeded by the costs of acquiring and maintaining the electric vehicles.
Logical negation tests whether an assumption is strictly required for the conclusion to stand.
3
Evaluate the impact of the negated statement on the conclusion.
If additional vehicle costs exceed fuel savings, net annual profit will decrease instead of increasing. The conclusion collapses.
Because the negated statement destroys the argument's conclusion, the original statement is a necessary unstated assumption.

Anahtar Kavram

Identifying Unstated Assumptions (Negation Test)
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