The following appeared as part of an article in a magazine on lifestyles:
"Two years ago, City L was listed fourteenth in an annual survey that ranks cities according to the quality of life that can be enjoyed by those living in them. This information will enable people who are moving to the state in which city L is located to confidently identify one place, at least, where schools are good, housing is affordable, people are friendly, the environment is safe, and the arts flourish."
Discuss how well reasoned..........etc
The author in the argument concludes that people moving to the state in which city L is located will be able to locate at least one place where schools are good, housing is affordable, etc, based on the evidence that city l was ranked fourteenth in an annual survey two years ago on the basis of quality of living. The argument is flawed because it is based on erroneous assumptions.
Firstly, the author wrongly assumes that the annual survey accurately measures things such as good schools, affordable housing, friendly neighbourhood, safe environment, and flourishing art. The evidence provided by the author ranks the cities only based on quality of life. The author doesnt specify what all comes under "quality of life". If the quality of life term used in the survey stood only for absence of poverty or literacy levels in the cities then it wouldnt support the conclusion made by the author.
Secondly, the author erroneously assumes that the survey points out that city L which is raked 14th is good enough. He doesnt specify how many cities participated in the survey and what does a rank 14 mean. If there are only 14 cities participating in the survey then the city L has been placed last or as the worst performer. Thus the evidence doesnt provide any reliable information on the basis of which the conclusion can be arrived at.
Lastly, the author uses a survey meant to compare cities and their performance to be a benchmark for people moving into a state to identify a place which is having all the features mentioned in the argument. It is has been wrongly assumed by the author that this survey is the best source for people to base their decisions on. It doesnt compare cities in that state. What if other cities in that state didnt participate in the survey but in reality they are much better than city L in terms of school infrastructure, affordable houses, safe environment,etc.
In conclusion, the argument made by the author is flawed because the conclusion doesnt rest on valid assumptions. However, the flaw can be fixed if the author provides more information regarding the survey, such as - what does the term quality of life mean and what all does it encompass, what does a 14th rank imply in terms of comparison with other cities, is the survey a reliable source on which decisions of the people moving into the city can be based, and whether there is some other better source which compares cities within the state and provides information about infrastructure and community of those cities. Thus if the author provides evidence regarding these then the argument can be made logically sound.
"Two years ago, City L was listed fourteenth in an annual survey that ranks cities according to the quality of life that can be enjoyed by those living in them. This information will enable people who are moving to the state in which city L is located to confidently identify one place, at least, where schools are good, housing is affordable, people are friendly, the environment is safe, and the arts flourish."
Discuss how well reasoned..........etc
The author in the argument concludes that people moving to the state in which city L is located will be able to locate at least one place where schools are good, housing is affordable, etc, based on the evidence that city l was ranked fourteenth in an annual survey two years ago on the basis of quality of living. The argument is flawed because it is based on erroneous assumptions.
Firstly, the author wrongly assumes that the annual survey accurately measures things such as good schools, affordable housing, friendly neighbourhood, safe environment, and flourishing art. The evidence provided by the author ranks the cities only based on quality of life. The author doesnt specify what all comes under "quality of life". If the quality of life term used in the survey stood only for absence of poverty or literacy levels in the cities then it wouldnt support the conclusion made by the author.
Secondly, the author erroneously assumes that the survey points out that city L which is raked 14th is good enough. He doesnt specify how many cities participated in the survey and what does a rank 14 mean. If there are only 14 cities participating in the survey then the city L has been placed last or as the worst performer. Thus the evidence doesnt provide any reliable information on the basis of which the conclusion can be arrived at.
Lastly, the author uses a survey meant to compare cities and their performance to be a benchmark for people moving into a state to identify a place which is having all the features mentioned in the argument. It is has been wrongly assumed by the author that this survey is the best source for people to base their decisions on. It doesnt compare cities in that state. What if other cities in that state didnt participate in the survey but in reality they are much better than city L in terms of school infrastructure, affordable houses, safe environment,etc.
In conclusion, the argument made by the author is flawed because the conclusion doesnt rest on valid assumptions. However, the flaw can be fixed if the author provides more information regarding the survey, such as - what does the term quality of life mean and what all does it encompass, what does a 14th rank imply in terms of comparison with other cities, is the survey a reliable source on which decisions of the people moving into the city can be based, and whether there is some other better source which compares cities within the state and provides information about infrastructure and community of those cities. Thus if the author provides evidence regarding these then the argument can be made logically sound.
