Deductions from a "most" statement
Started by
Sage
· started 2020-04-09 03:12
· last activity 2020-04-09 14:16
· 1 reply
Is the right answer choice E, because you can only make a deduction of a "some" statement from a "most" statement?
If most views of artists are less insightful than those of any reasonably well-educated, non-artist people, can we make an inference that "ALL" views of artists being less insightful than those of the well-educated non-artist people?
Thanks!
-
Victoria
· 2020-04-09 14:16
Hi @Sage,
Happy to help!
(E) is correct because you can reverse 'most' statements to 'some' statements.
Most artists are less insightful. This means that the remainder of artists must either be as insightful as or more insightful than reasonably well-educated non-artists.
Remember that 'most' simply means the majority (anything over 50% but less than 100%). We cannot make the inference that ALL artists are less insightful than non-artists because the stimulus says 'most.'
We know that the majority of artists are less insightful than non-artists. This means that a minority of artists must be either as insightful as or more insightful than non-artists.
You can't make the inference that all X are Y unless the passage says "all" or "every" or some equivalent qualifier.
Hope this is helpful! Please let us know if you have any further questions.
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