Solved

The Following Passage Contains an Argument That Is Somewhat Complex

Question 17

Multiple Choice

The following passage contains an argument that is somewhat complex, either because it makes complicated claims or contains a lot of supplementary information. Identify the best standard-form representation of the argument.
The passage: The choices I make and the things I do might, some of the time, be noticed by the people who live around me right now. That gives some of those choices the illusory feel of meaningfulness. But with very few exceptions, the choices I make and the things I do right now will soon be forgotten by me and everyone else. This fact remains true whether I am kind or callous, generous or self-absorbed, hard-working or lazy. No matter what I do with my life, the choices I make, the things I do, it will all be quickly forgotten.
It is almost certainly true that in 100 years, I will be completely forgotten. And it is undoubtedly true that I will be completely forgotten in a million years. Why should I invest time and effort in choices and activities that will, ultimately, be completely forgotten?
To invest such time and effort would be absurd. To invest such time and effort would be to behave as if my life is meaningful when the perspective of a million years into the future reveals this inescapable conclusion: life is meaningless.


A) 1) The choices I make and the things I do might, some of the time, be noticed by the people who live around me right now.
2) No matter what I do with my life, the choices I make, the things I do will all be quickly forgotten.
So, my choices have only an illusory feel of meaningfulness.
B) 1) In order for life to have meaning, people in the future must remember us.
2) People in the future won't remember us. So, life does not have meaning.
C) 1) It is almost certainly true that in 100 years I will be completely forgotten.
2) Investing time and effort into my activities is absurd when they will be forgotten in 100 years.
So, life is meaningless.
D)
1) The choices I make and the things I do might some of the time be noticed by people who live around me right now.
2) But with very few exceptions, the choices I make and the things I do right now will soon be forgotten by me and everyone else.
So, life is meaningless.

Correct Answer:

verifed

Verified

Unlock this answer now
Get Access to more Verified Answers free of charge

Related Questions

Unlock this Answer For Free Now!

View this answer and more for free by performing one of the following actions

qr-code

Scan the QR code to install the App and get 2 free unlocks

upload documents

Unlock quizzes for free by uploading documents