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CR - Assumption with logical bump

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CR - Assumption with logical bump

by karthikpandian19 » Tue Jul 10, 2012 12:12 am
In science, inductive reasoning, or working from examples to discover abstract concepts, is often considered superior to deductive reasoning, or using abstract concepts to make sense of examples. However, a recent study found that the most famous scientific discoveries have been made through the use of deductive reasoning. This confirms the alternative view that deductive reasoning is actually more successful than inductive reasoning in advancing science.

The conclusion above is based on which of the following assumptions?


(A) More famous scientific discoveries advance science more than less famous scientific discoveries do.

(B) The most famous scientific discoveries probably employ both inductive and deductive reasoning.

(C) Using abstract concepts to make sense of single examples is an inappropriate way to make scientific discoveries.

(D) The most famous scientists employ deductive reasoning in the majority of their scientific work.

(E) The discoveries made by working scientists can be made just as easily using either inductive or deductive reasoning.
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by Kasia@EconomistGMAT » Tue Jul 10, 2012 2:59 am
The correct answer is A.
The argument claims that the most famous scientific discoveries have been made through the use of deductive reasoning (premise2), therefore deductive reasoning is more successful in ADVANCING SCIENCE.(conclusion)
Therefore, advancing science is treated as synonymous with making famous scientific discoveries. Analogically, it can be stated that the more famous the discovery, the more advantage it will provide to science.
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by spartacus1412 » Tue Jul 10, 2012 6:06 am
why not E.
if we negate E ,it states that the two ways are not equally probable.

Please clarify
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by Bill@VeritasPrep » Tue Jul 10, 2012 8:05 am
spartacus1412 wrote:why not E.
if we negate E ,it states that the two ways are not equally probable.

Please clarify
After negation, the correct answer undermines the conclusion.

The two ways not being equally useful/likely to lead to discoveries is required for the argument to make sense.
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by karthikpandian19 » Tue Jul 10, 2012 4:58 pm
Spartacus1412, let me know whether this clears your doubt abt E

Although many believe that inductive reasoning is superior to deductive reasoning in science, the passage states that the most famous scientific discoveries used deductive reasoning. From this evidence, the author concludes that deductive reasoning advances science more than inductive reasoning does.

The question asks us to identify the assumption in this argument. This argument contains a classic logical jump. The study was concerned with the most famous discoveries, whereas the author uses that information to draw a conclusion about which type of reasoning is more successful at advancing science.

The evidence and conclusion contain different terms; the author must assume that there's a connection between how famous a discovery is and how successful it is.

We find just this assumption in correct choice A, which tells us that famous discoveries advance science more than less famous scientific discoveries.

Choice E states that inductive and deductive reasoning are equally effective in making discoveries. However, the argument gives evidence that deductive reasoning is actually more successful than inductive reasoning in advancing science.

Choice B states that the most famous discoveries use both types of reasoning. This directly contradicts the argument, which says that the most famous scientific discoveries have been made through the use of deductive reasoning. Eliminate this choice.

Choice C tells us that "using abstract concepts to make sense of single examples" (the definition the passage gives for "deductive reasoning") is inappropriate for making scientific discoveries.The author states just the opposite; that deductive reasoning is actually more successful than inductive reasoning in advancing science.

Choice D is about "the most famous scientists" and which type of reasoning they use in their work. There is no direct reference to famous scientists in the argument, only famous scientific discoveries. The two are not the same, and the author says nothing about famous scientists themselves. Eliminate this choice.

Choice A is correct.
spartacus1412 wrote:why not E.
if we negate E ,it states that the two ways are not equally probable.

Please clarify
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