PrepTest 118

Incorrect. It's not established that the good life, as defined by these moral theories, is actually good, so most people judging it to not be good doesn't mean they want something better, just different.

Incorrect. We know that most people disagree with the definition of the good life put forward by all moral theories. Thus, it's possible that all of the theories define that life in the same manner.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Facts

Question Type:
Must Be True

Stimulus Summary:
Moral Theory in Western Tradition → Defines the good life
Most people would think someone living that life wasn't living a good life

Answer Anticipation:
This argument brings up a discrepancy between what Western moral theories say is the good life, and what people actually believe is the good life. The theories define that life one way, but people looking at someone living by that definition wouldn't be judged to be living such a good life. Therefore, it must be the case that most people disagree with the definition of a good life presented by all the Western moral theories!

Answer Explanation:
This answer highlights the discrepancy between the viewpoints. If someone living the good life as defined by "[e]very moral theory" wouldn't be viewed by most as living a good life then it must be the case that most people's conception of that life doesn't match with the definition put forth by the theories. And that "Every" in the first line justifies the strength of this answer ("any moral theory").

Key Takeaway:
When viewpoints are brought up you should note the different ones. Here there's the viewpoint of the theories and that of most people. When there's a contradiction between those views the fact that there's a contradiction is often related to the correct answer and the specific contradiction is just as likely to show up.

Incorrect. While someone perfectly embodying the good life as described by those theories is presented only hypothetically in the stimulus, there's no indication that it can't actually be realized, so this answer is wrong.

Incorrect. First, just because no Western moral theory yet developed matches what most people would view as the good life doesn't mean that another theory (non—Western, or a Western moral theory in the future) could do so. Second, it's possible that these theories have correctly defined the good life, and people's views on the subject are wrong!