Summarize Argument: Phenomenon-Hypothesis
The political scientist argues that decreasing voter turnout is entirely explained by people losing faith in the government’s ability to solve problems. This is because people losing faith in government’s ability to change public opinion, which they believe is necessary to solve society’s problems, is an example of something that causes people to lose enthusiasm for voting.
Identify and Describe Flaw
This argument is flawed because it treats a sufficient condition as if it were a necessary condition. In other words, the argument assumes that because a loss of faith in government’s ability to solve problems can cause people to lose interest in voting, that it must be what’s causing voter turnout to decrease in this case. However, there could be other conditions also sufficient to decrease voter turnout. The argument fails to consider possible alternative explanations for falling turnout.
A
presumes, without providing justification, that there is no cause of decreasing voter turnout other than the belief that few important problems can be solved by government action
This describes how the argument fails to consider other possible alternative explanations for decreasing voter turnout, instead assuming that a loss of faith in government must be what’s causing it.
B
presumes, without providing justification, that there are no political solutions to the most important problems
The argument isn’t concerned with whether or not these problems are solvable. It only makes a claim about what’s causing voter turnout to decrease.
C
infers that important problems can be seriously addressed if people’s attitudes do change from the premise that these problems cannot be addressed if people’s attitudes do not change
The argument only makes a claim about what’s causing voter turnout to decrease, not about whether any problems can or can’t be addressed. The flaw is failing to consider other possible causes.
D
undermines its claim that people no longer believe there are political solutions to important problems by suggesting that people are dissatisfied with politicians
People being dissatisfied with politicians does not undermine this claim; it could explain why those people don’t believe in political solutions.
E
presumes, without providing justification, that voter apathy prevents the attitudinal changes that result in finding solutions to important problems
The argument doesn’t presume that voter apathy has any particular effects; it only seeks to explain what’s causing the apathy.