Having trouble with logical reasoning

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the logical reasoning involved in interpreting statements and conclusions, particularly in the context of a test question about video libraries. Participants explore the validity of conclusions drawn from given premises, questioning the soundness of the reasoning presented in the test.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • The original poster (OP) argues that neither conclusion logically follows from the statement about video libraries, citing insufficient evidence for both conclusions.
  • One participant agrees with the OP regarding the first conclusion but questions the validity of the second conclusion.
  • Another participant expresses skepticism about the test's conclusions, suggesting that the reasoning may rely on vague semantics rather than sound logic.
  • A different participant supports the OP's view, providing an analogy with Linux distributions to illustrate that flourishing does not imply widespread popularity.
  • One participant emphasizes that discussions should not reference external websites, suggesting that the content may not be relevant or credible.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that the conclusions drawn from the statement are problematic, but there is no consensus on the interpretation of the test's requirements or the validity of the reasoning involved.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the test's target audience and the ultimate goal of the questions, indicating that the premises may not be built on sound logic.

oneamp
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The subject seems inexact to me. For example:

--
In each question below is given a statement followed by two conclusions numbered I and II. You have to assume everything in the statement to be true, then consider the two conclusions together and decide which of them logically follows beyond a reasonable doubt from the information given in the statement.
---

The question is:

Statements: Video libraries are flourishing very much these days.

Conclusions:

People in general have got a video craze.
It is much cheaper to see as many movies as one likes on videos rather than going to the cinema hall.
----

I conclude neither of them, because there's not enough evidence to say that either I or II caused it. But the test says both of them. What do I miss?

Thanks
 
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I can see how the first can be inferred from the premise, but not the second conclusion.
 
I'd like to see the reasoning for that...neither logically follows. Are you sure the test says that both of them follow logically? Or does it say that neither follow?

If the test is looking to see if you can provide reasonable solutions to questions, then perhaps both of the answer provide a possible solution which is consistent with logic, but this is not logical reasoning. This is using implicit and often vague semantics to reason potentially true points.

I found a site with this question and others, and I'm still trying to understand who the target audience is, and what the ultimate goal of this test is...the majority of these are not built on sound logic.
 
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I'm inclined to agree with the OP (and I hate this sort of woolly "liberal arts" thinking style).

It is obviously true that "video libraries are flourishing" means there is a lot of use of video libraries. But "Linux distributions are flourishing" doesn't imply "People in general have got a craze for Linux". Some people have, but (I'm guessing) not the majority of "people" even in first world countries.

The second one doesn't seem to follow at all. For example Tesla Motors is "flourishing" by selling very expensive cars to a tiny number of customers, compared with the total number of cars in use.
 
Sorry, but we can't discuss random websites.

Please see Travis_King's post, I deleted the link to the website, sorry, I should have explained that. Just because someone posts something on the internet doesn't mean it makes sense and is worthy of discussion here, as has been pointed out. :smile:
 
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