Philosopher: Not just any object can be a work of art. If an object cannot be evaluated from an aesthetic...
GMAT Critical Reasoning : (CR) Questions
Philosopher: Not just any object can be a work of art. If an object cannot be evaluated from an aesthetic point of view, it is not art. Thus, ordinary thumbtacks, cheap white envelopes, and disposable plastic forks such as those given at some fast-food restaurants cannot qualify as works of art.
Which of the following would, if true, most indicate an error in the philosopher's reasoning?
Passage Analysis:
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
| Not just any object can be a work of art. |
|
| If an object cannot be evaluated from an aesthetic point of view, it is not art. |
|
| Thus, ordinary thumbtacks, cheap white envelopes, and disposable plastic forks such as those given at some fast-food restaurants cannot qualify as works of art. |
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Argument Flow:
The philosopher starts with a general statement about art having limits, then provides a specific rule about aesthetic evaluation, and finally applies this rule to conclude that certain everyday objects can't be art.
Main Conclusion:
Ordinary items like thumbtacks, cheap envelopes, and disposable plastic forks cannot be works of art.
Logical Structure:
The argument follows a simple logical pattern: establishes a definition (aesthetic evaluation requirement) → applies this definition → reaches conclusion about specific objects. The reasoning assumes that the mentioned everyday items cannot be evaluated aesthetically.
Prethinking:
Question type:
Misc. - This is asking us to identify what would reveal a flaw or error in the philosopher's reasoning process
Precision of Claims
The philosopher makes a categorical claim about aesthetic evaluation being required for art status, and definitively concludes that specific everyday objects cannot qualify as art
Strategy
Look for scenarios that would expose logical flaws in the philosopher's reasoning. The main vulnerability is the assumption that everyday objects cannot be evaluated aesthetically. We need scenarios that challenge this hidden assumption or show the reasoning chain breaks down somewhere.
This choice discusses what qualifies as art beyond aesthetic evaluation, but the philosopher's argument isn't claiming that aesthetic evaluation is sufficient for art - only that it's necessary. This doesn't reveal an error in the philosopher's logic about the necessity of aesthetic evaluation.
Critics questioning whether known works qualify as art doesn't challenge the philosopher's reasoning process. It's about debating specific cases, not about the logical framework the philosopher uses to exclude everyday objects.
This correctly notes that excluding objects doesn't establish what does qualify as art, but this isn't an error in the philosopher's reasoning - they're only trying to exclude certain objects, not provide a complete definition of what qualifies as art.
This is correct because it directly undermines the philosopher's hidden assumption. The philosopher assumes that everyday objects like thumbtacks cannot be evaluated aesthetically by anyone. But if some people can evaluate these objects aesthetically while others cannot, then the philosopher's categorical conclusion is wrong. These objects could potentially qualify as art according to the philosopher's own criterion.
People applying different aesthetic evaluations to the same object doesn't challenge whether the object can be aesthetically evaluated at all. The philosopher only requires that aesthetic evaluation be possible, not that everyone agrees on the evaluation.