If the statements in the stimulus are put forward as an argument in favor of the development of the megatelescope, the argument would be using the work of world-renown scientists to somehow prove that the megatelescope is similar, i.e. the research conducted by astronomers using the megatelescope will provide the world with beneficial applications that followed from this research.
We are being asked to identify the Error in Reasoning of this argument, so let's take a look at the answer choices:
(A) is incorrect because we do not have an appeal to an authority.
(B) is incorrect because there is no need to identify who is opposed to the development of the megatelescope. We have already been provided with the view of some of those that are opposed, i.e. "funding the megatelescope will benefit only the astronomers who will work with it."
(C) is incorrect because this is not a personal attack on the opponents of the megatelescope.
(D) is incorrect because the argument is about beneficial applications that follow from this research. These beneficial applications could be economic, intellectual or both.
(E) is CORRECT because we are given no reason to believe that the proposed megatelescope research is worthy of comparison with that of eminent scientists in its potential for applications. As such, this analogy does not make any sense.
Hope this helps! Please let us know if you have any other questions.
AdvaithNovember 3, 2015
Could you please explain what type of flaw this is?
MehranNovember 9, 2015
The observatory director is trying to draw an analogy (funding megatelescope comparable to funding work of great scientists like Maxwell, Newton, Einstein) without first establishing that the analogy is apt (as discussed above). Hope this helps!
jamesioApril 27, 2018
Process of elimination lead me to E, but i still did not feel comfortable that I had found the correct answer. Phrases like "worthy of comparison with that of eminent scientists" just felt like too strong of language to me...
In order not to waste too much time pondering on answer choices, is it best to move on knowing that I have (at least in my head) justly eliminated the other answers?
