QUESTION TEXT: Counselor: Those who believe that criticism should…
QUESTION TYPE: Flawed Reasoning
CONCLUSION: Only harsh criticism will cause change.
Change ➞ Harsh criticism
REASONING: Change ➞ motive
Harsh criticism ➞ unpleasant ➞ motive
ANALYSIS: The author has shown that harsh criticism is sufficient to provide a motive for change. And having a motive is a necessary condition for change.
But the author then assumes that harsh criticism is necessary for a motive. This is reversing sufficient and necessary. Any “flawed reasoning” question that uses conditional logic will probably mix up sufficient and necessary.
___________
- CORRECT. Bingo. A polite request can often also change behavior, for example. Harsh criticism isn’t necessary, even if it can occasionally work.
- This isn’t a problem. The counselor’s conclusion only addresses whether or not criticism will work as a means of changing behavior.
- The counselor only said that change requires a motive. He didn’t say that harsh criticism will work every time.
- The counselor only talks about a motive for changing. He doesn’t mention a motive for avoiding change.
- The counselor technically didn’t refute any argument. He just said that the people mentioned in the first sentence should consider his argument.
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