PrepTest 81, Section 2, Question 24

Difficulty:

There are only two plausible views about where the aesthetic value of a painting lies: either in its purely formal qualities or in what the painting means. But there exists no compelling general account of how a painting could derive its value from its purely formal characteristics. Therefore, the aesthetic value of a painting lies in what it means.

Question

The pattern of questionable reasoning in the argument above is most similar to that in which one of the following?

This cardiac patient could be treated with surgery or angioplasty, among other methods. But his weak condition would make recovery from surgery a very long process. Therefore, the doctors ought to perform angioplasty.

Should the company be outbid on the new project, it will either have to lay off workers or find new business. But it does not expect to find new business in the foreseeable future. Therefore, it must be expecting to win the bid on the new project.

History is driven primarily by economic forces or primarily by political forces. But no historian has shown convincingly that history is driven mainly by economic forces. Therefore, it is driven primarily by political forces.

Some analysts are forecasting that if the economy expands, the inflation rate will rise or the unemployment rate will fall. But the unemployment rate promises to remain stable. Therefore, the inflation rate will not change either.

If the party does not change its policies, it will lose heavily in the next election. But if it changes its policies, some people who support those policies will be upset and will sit out the next election. Therefore, it is impossible for the party to win in the next election.

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