Mind the Gap – An article
The word ‘Gap’ is defined as a break or hole in an object or between two objects. Let us understand what we mean by gaps in the context of Critical Reasoning arguments with a couple of examples.
Sample passage: All tigers are cats. All cats are mammals. Therefore, all tigers are mammals.
Is this above simplistic passage an argument? Yes, it has a point supported by some reasoning. So, it is an argument.
What is the main point? All tigers are mammals.
On what basis is the main point being made? The facts that all tigers are cats, and that all cats are mammals.
On the basis of these supports (or premises), is the main point guaranteed?
In other words, given that
- All tigers are cats
- And, all cats are mammals
Can we say FOR SURE that all tigers are mammals?
We can. If all tigers are cats, and all cats are mammals, for sure all tigers are mammals.
This is an airtight argument. On the basis of the support, the main point follows for sure.
Let us consider another example.
Sample passage: John’s car had a flat tyre while John was driving to work this morning. Therefore, John will be late to work.
Would you say this argument is also airtight the way the tigers, cats and mammals one was? Let’s examine this
Is this passage an argument? Yes.
What’s the main point? John will be late to work.
On what basis is the main point being made? John’s car had a flat tyre while John was driving to work this morning.
On the basis of this support, is the main point guaranteed?
In other words, given that John’s car had a flat tyre while John was driving to work this morning, can we say FOR SURE that John will be late to work?
We can’t.
- What if John left quite early and has enough time to fix the tyre and still reach office on time?
- What if John had the flat tyre just outside his office and he decides to just park his car in the office parking lot till evening? Maybe he could still report to work on time.
- What if a colleague of John saw John stalled at the side of the road, helped John fix his tyre, and they were still able to get going well within time to reach office on time?
There could be so many possible scenarios through which John might still reach office on time. All we are told is that John had a flat tyre. The author seems to oversee these scenarios while putting forth the argument.
This argument is not airtight. The “what-if” scenarios discussed above are some of the ‘gaps’ in the argument.
To summarise,
While we are reading a passage, and making connections, if we come across an idea that is supported by another idea, ask: does the support guarantee the point?
If it does, the argument is airtight.
If it doesn’t, the argument would have gaps.
Figuring out these gaps will form the base of how we tackle Critical Reasoning argument-based questions.