Soru

Zorluk: OrtaArgument by Elimination

Curator: The rapid deterioration of the ancient manuscript's parchment must be the result of fluctuations in the archives' humidity levels. When the deterioration was first noticed, we suspected three potential causes: exposure to ultraviolet light, chemical off-gassing from the new display cases, or humidity fluctuations. We have since confirmed that the manuscript was entirely shielded from UV light, and extensive air quality tests found absolutely no trace of chemical off-gassing in the room.

Which one of the following most accurately describes the method of reasoning used in the curator's argument?

  1. A
    Inferring a causal connection between two events based solely on the observation that they occurred simultaneously.
  2. B
    Concluding that a condition is the cause of an effect because it is the only condition sufficient to produce that effect.
  3. Establishing a particular explanation for a phenomenon by systematically rejecting all other proposed explanations.Cevap
  4. D
    Attempting to establish a conclusion by undermining the intermediate conclusions of competing arguments.
  5. E
    Relying on unstated information outside the scope of the immediate context to disprove alternative hypotheses.

Cevap

The option stating that the argument establishes a particular explanation by systematically rejecting all other proposed explanations.
The curator reaches a conclusion about the cause of the manuscript's deterioration by introducing a finite list of three potential causes, and then providing evidence to explicitly rule out two of them. This leaves the third option (humidity fluctuations) as the only remaining plausible cause. This logical structure is a classic argument by elimination.

Adım Adım Çözüm

1
Analyze the structure of the argument's premises and conclusion.
The conclusion is that humidity fluctuations caused the deterioration. The premises list three potential causes and explicitly provide evidence that two of them (UV light and chemical off-gassing) did not occur.
Understanding the logical flow from premises to conclusion is required to identify the method of reasoning.
2
Identify the logical pattern used by the speaker.
The pattern is: A, B, or C could be the cause. Not A. Not B. Therefore, C.
Abstracting the specific details reveals the underlying logical framework.
3
Evaluate the answer choices to find the one that matches this pattern.
The option describing 'systematically rejecting all other proposed explanations' perfectly matches the 'Not A, Not B, therefore C' pattern.
The correct answer in a Method of Reasoning question must accurately and comprehensively describe the argument's structural approach.

Anahtar Kavram

Argument by Elimination
Bu soruyu puanla