Joyce: As more knowledge became available in previous centuries, the need for specialists to synthesize and explain it to nonspecialists increased. So computers will probably create a greater dependency on experts.
Speaker 1 Summary
Mary thinks that computers will make it easier for ordinary people to acquire knowledge with no need for experts. Why? Because people will have access to more information than ever before. Mary is assuming that greater access to information will lead to greater ability to acquire knowledge without involving experts.
Speaker 2 Summary
Joyce thinks that computers will increase people’s need for experts. Why? Because in the past, a greater availability of knowledge led to a greater need for experts to explain that knowledge to non-experts. Joyce is assuming that the same thing will happen with computers.
Objective
We’re looking for a point of disagreement. Mary and Joyce disagree about whether computers will decrease or increase the need for people to rely on experts to acquire knowledge.
A
computers will contribute only negligibly to the increasing dissemination of knowledge in society
Neither speaker makes any claim about the overall impact of computers on the dissemination of knowledge in society. Both Mary and Joyce limit their arguments to how experts will be involved.
B
computers will increase the need for ordinary people seeking knowledge to turn to experts
Mary disagrees with this: her argument is meant to establish that computers will decrease people’s need for experts. Joyce agrees with this: she uses history to claim that people’s need for experts will increase. This is the point of disagreement.
C
computers will make more information available to ordinary people
Mary states this as a premise, so clearly agrees. Joyce also seems to agree, though: her argument implies that computers will make more knowledge available to ordinary people. Joyce certainly doesn’t claim otherwise.
D
dependency on computers will increase with the increase of knowledge
Neither speaker talks about dependency on computers or how an increase of knowledge would affect such a dependency.
E
synthesizing knowledge and explaining it to ordinary people can be accomplished only by computer experts
Neither speaker says that only computer experts can synthesize and explain knowledge to ordinary people. Joyce indicates that there will be a need for experts to synthesize and explain, but doesn’t say that only experts can do this, and doesn’t specify computer experts.
Summarize Argument
The solicitor concludes that Loux probably would not have cared if Zembaty sold Stoke Farm to clear the estate’s debts. Why? Because Loux never said she wanted to keep the farm, the only one she owned, and Zembaty has a legal obligation to sell some of the estate in order to repay debts.
Notable Assumptions
The solicitor assumes there’s no other combination of assets less desirable to Loux’s grandson that could be sold to cover those debts instead. In addition, he assumes Loux would have no objection to Zembaty selling pieces of the estate to fulfill the legal obligation.
A
The estate’s debts could not have been cleared without selling the Stoke Farm.
This strengthens the argument because it implies that Zembaty has a legal obligation to sell the farm. The solicitor doesn’t suggest Loux would object to selling the farm simply because Zembaty is obligated to do so.
B
Loux repeatedly told her grandson that she would take care of him in her will.
This is irrelevant because Loux may still leave other assets to her grandson, other than the farm. This doesn’t suggest Loux’s grandson would oppose selling the farm.
C
Loux was well aware of the legal requirements the executor of her will would have to satisfy.
This strengthens the argument by implying Loux would not have opposed Zembaty selling some of her assets.
D
The Stoke Farm was the main cause of the estate’s debts.
Selling the farm may still help raise money to cover those debts, regardless of their origin. This doesn’t say the Stoke Farm has zero or negative financial value.
E
Loux’s grandson had repeatedly expressed his desire to own a farm.
This suggests the farm is more desirable to Loux’s grandson than her other assets, meaning Loux would likely object to its sale. It challenges the solicitor’s assumption that the farm is undesirable to Loux’s grandson.