Flawed ReasoningDiff: Hard
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: Because one old theory of art couldn't explain the new, pretty stuff made in the 1960s, the author claims that no theory will ever be able to explain all art.
Conclusion: It is impossible to ever have a complete theory of aesthetics.
Reasoning: A specific 18th-century aesthetic theory was successful for a long time but ultimately failed to account for the beautiful, rebellious art produced in the 1960s.
Analysis: The author is guilty of a massive overgeneralization. They take the failure of one specific, historical theory (the 18th-century one) and use it to conclude that the entire goal of creating a 'complete theory' is impossible. This is like saying that because the first airplane crashed, human flight is impossible. When looking for the flaw, seek out an answer that points out this leap from a single failure to a universal impossibility. The author ignores the possibility that a more modern or flexible theory could eventually account for all art, including the 1960s rebellion.
Conclusion: It is impossible to ever have a complete theory of aesthetics.
Reasoning: A specific 18th-century aesthetic theory was successful for a long time but ultimately failed to account for the beautiful, rebellious art produced in the 1960s.
Analysis: The author is guilty of a massive overgeneralization. They take the failure of one specific, historical theory (the 18th-century one) and use it to conclude that the entire goal of creating a 'complete theory' is impossible. This is like saying that because the first airplane crashed, human flight is impossible. When looking for the flaw, seek out an answer that points out this leap from a single failure to a universal impossibility. The author ignores the possibility that a more modern or flexible theory could eventually account for all art, including the 1960s rebellion.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage24.The reasoning above is most vulnerable to criticism in that it
Correct Answer
E
E correctly identifies the flaw: the argument assumes, without justification, that eighteenth-century European aesthetics is as encompassing as an aesthetic theory could be, so if it fails to cover certain art, no complete theory is possible.
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