Passage Summary: A TV executive says we shouldn't worry about ghost shows ruining science because we've had ghost stories forever and science is doing just fine.

Conclusion: The claim that paranormal television shows will damage the public's scientific understanding is incorrect.

Reasoning: Dramatists have used ghosts and spirits throughout history, yet scientific understanding has continued to advance during those times.

Analysis: The executive is making a classic 'it hasn't stopped us yet' argument, which is a bit like saying a small fire in the kitchen isn't a problem because the house hasn't burned down in the last hundred years. The flaw lies in assuming that because science advanced in the past despite ghost stories, these new programs cannot possibly hinder progress now. Look for an answer that points out the executive ignores the possibility that science might have advanced even further without such distractions, or that the current situation is different from the past. It's a bit cheeky to assume that what didn't kill us then can't hurt us now.