Doctor: Medical researchers recently examined a large group of individuals who said that they had never experienced s...

JayDee8732 on September 23, 2017

Help

Can you explain the correct answer choice

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CSMengineer on May 9, 2018

I had a tough time with this one, too.

Christopher on May 12, 2018

@JayDee8732 and @CSMengineer The doctor's argument depends on a logical fallacy. Having several people who have never experienced back pain but nonetheless have a bulging or slipped disk means that having a bulging or slipped disk does not guarantee (is not sufficient to prove) that a person will experience back pain. However, the doctor is saying that since some people who have bulging or slipped disks in their spines feel no pain, then bulging or slipped disks could not lead to serious back pain, which is to push the statement too far.

The problem with this is that just because a slipped disk is not sufficient to guarantee that a person is experiencing back pain does not mean that a slipped disk may not be a factor in back pain. (B) points out this error, effectively weakening the doctor's argument.