Lesson: Challenging Critical/Logical Reasoning - 15t01

Reasoning Classics: The Scope Shift Argument, continued

The extent to which a society is really free can be gauged by its attitude toward artistic expression. Freedom of expression can easily be violated in even the most outwardly democratic of societies. When a government arts council withholds funding from a dance performance that its members deem "obscene," the voices of a few bureaucrats have in fact censored the work of the choreographer, thereby committing the real obscenity of repression. Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the argument above? Members of government arts councils are screened to ensure that their beliefs reflect those of the majority. The term obscenity has several definitions that should not be used interchangeably for rhetorical effect. Failing to provide financial support for a performance is not the same as actively preventing or inhibiting it. The council's decision could be reversed if the performances were altered to conform to public standards of appropriateness. The definition of obscenity is something on which most members of a society can agree.

The author is making a conclusion about censoring the work of the choreographer, but is using evidence about the funding of the choreographer's work. Refusing to fund a work of art is different from actively censoring the work. Choice (C) calls attention to the scope shift, and thus weakens the argument.

Scope shifts are one of the most common logical flaws in Reasoning arguments. If a question asks you to identify an error in the author's reasoning, or to weaken the argument, be on the lookout for scope shifts.

Next to display next topic in the chapter.