Summary
In theory, analog systems are better than digital systems. This is because analog signals can be infinitely detailed, whereas digital signals cannot, since they can’t be more precise than their digital units. But there’s an associated disadvantage of analog systems. Since there’s no limit to the level of detail in analog signals, duplication of analog signals allows room for variations from the original (called errors), which tend to build up as the analog signal is further duplicated. At some point, the number of errors in an analog signal makes it impossible to understand the information contained in the original signal.
Strongly Supported Conclusions
When duplicated, digital signals allow for less variation than analog signals allow.
Digital systems may be better for signals that must be duplicated many times.
Digital systems may be better for signals that must be duplicated many times.
A
Many ideas that work well in theory do not work well in practice.
Unsupported. Analog systems are at a disadvantage when signals have to be copied many times. That doesn’t imply that analog systems don’t work well in practice.
B
Analog representation of information is impractical because we do not need infinitely detailed information.
Unsupported. The stimulus doesn’t suggest that we don’t need infinitely detailed information. Maybe we do, and it would be better for us if there were a way to achieve such infinite detail.
C
Digital systems are the best information systems because error cannot occur in the emission of digital signals.
Unsupported. Although digital systems are not as prone to error in duplication as are analog systems, that doesn’t imply that there are never any errors associated with emission of digital signals.
D
Analog systems are inferior to digital systems for most practical purposes.
Unsupported. Although analog systems are worse for purposes that involve duplicating a signal many times, that doesn’t imply they’re worse for “most” practical purposes. Maybe most practical purposes don’t involve numerous copies.
E
Digital systems are preferable to analog systems when the signal must be reproduced many times.
Strongly supported. We’re told that analog systems lead to a build-up of errors in the signal when the signal is copied many times. Digital system don’t have this problem to the same extent. So, digital systems are preferable when we need the signal to be copied many times.
Summarize Argument
The biologist concludes that humans would be equally satisfied with six fingers if they’d descended from a six-fingered fish. This is because five fingers are no more or less useful than six fingers.
Notable Assumptions
In order for humans to be equally satisfied by six fingers, biologist assumes that humans are equally satisfied by equally useful things. The biologist shifts from usefulness to satisfaction without justification.
A
Everyone is equally content with our present configuration of fingers.
We don’t need everyone in the world to be content with our present configuration. Besides, the biologist never claims we actually are content with having five fingers. She claims we would be equally content with six fingers, but we don’t know how content that is.
B
Humans are never equally content with two things of unequal usefulness.
We’re not talking about things of unequal usefulness. We’re interested in things that are equally useful.
C
Humans are always equally content with two things of equal usefulness.
Humans are equally content with two equally useful things—in this case, hands with five or six fingers. This clarifies the relationship between contentment and usefulness.
D
The perceived usefulness of our configuration of fingers is an illusory result of our prejudices.
Five fingers seem to be pretty useful. We need to strengthen the claim that humans would be as content with six fingers.
E
At least one species of fish had six phalanges in its fins.
Irrelevant. Humans descended from a fish with five phalanges.