Principle JustifyDiff: Easy
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: The author argues against gene patents, saying that finding something in nature isn't the same as creating it and that making a profit from this info is unethical.
Conclusion: It should be illegal to patent an organism's genes.
Reasoning: Discovering something does not make one an inventor, and profiting from genetic information is a selfish and irresponsible act.
Analysis: To justify this argument, we need a principle that connects the premises to the legal conclusion. The argument makes two distinct claims: one about the definition of an 'inventor' and one about the 'morality' of profit. We need a rule that says if something is a discovery rather than an invention, it shouldn't be patented, or perhaps that selfish/irresponsible acts should be illegal. Look for an answer that bridges the gap between these descriptive or moral claims and the prescriptive 'should be illegal' conclusion.
Conclusion: It should be illegal to patent an organism's genes.
Reasoning: Discovering something does not make one an inventor, and profiting from genetic information is a selfish and irresponsible act.
Analysis: To justify this argument, we need a principle that connects the premises to the legal conclusion. The argument makes two distinct claims: one about the definition of an 'inventor' and one about the 'morality' of profit. We need a rule that says if something is a discovery rather than an invention, it shouldn't be patented, or perhaps that selfish/irresponsible acts should be illegal. Look for an answer that bridges the gap between these descriptive or moral claims and the prescriptive 'should be illegal' conclusion.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage20.Which one of the following principles, if valid, most helps to justify the argument?
Correct Answer
B
B directly links discovery status to patent ineligibility: if a thing is merely discovered, discovering it should not entitle someone to patent it. That principle converts the premise (“discoverers aren’t inventors”) into the legal conclusion (no patents on genes).
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