Media consultant: Electronic media are bound to bring an end to the institution of the traditional school in our culture. This is because the emergence of the traditional school, characterized by a group of students gathered with a teacher in a classroom, was facilitated by the availability of relatively inexpensive printed books. Currently, however, the function of books in communicating information is gradually being taken over by electronic media. So, it is inevitable that the traditional school will not survive in our culture.
Summarize Argument
The media consultant concludes that electronic media will bring an end to traditional schools. He supports this by saying that the availability and affordability of printed books helped to bring about traditional schools, and that electronic media is now fulfilling the purpose of books in communicating information.
Identify and Describe Flaw
The media consultant assumes that, because having books helped to start traditional schools, not having books (because they’re being replaced by electronic media) will end traditional schools. The problem is that he never actually showed that books are necessary to traditional schools. Just because books helped these schools emerge doesn’t mean that they’re necessary for the schools to continue to exist in the future.
A
presupposes as a premise what it is trying to establish
This is the cookie-cutter flaw of “circular reasoning,” where the premise is simply a restatement of the conclusion. The media consultant doesn’t make this mistake. His premises are distinct from his conclusion, even though they don’t support it well.
B
relies inappropriately on expert testimony
The media consultant doesn’t mention any experts at all, so he can’t inappropriately rely on their testimony.
C
presupposes that just because something can happen it will happen
The media consultant concludes that traditional schools will be eliminated, but he doesn’t do so on the basis that they can be eliminated. In fact, he never actually proves that they can be eliminated. So, (C) can’t describe the flaw in his argument.
D
mistakes something that enables an institution to arise for something necessary to the institution
The media consultant assumes that just because books enabled traditional schools to arise, they must be necessary to traditional schools. But maybe these schools can carry on just fine, even though electronic media are fulfilling the role of books in communicating information.
E
confuses the value of an institution with the medium by which it operates
The media consultant never makes any claims about the value of traditional schools.