Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: Only assumption I is implicit.
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This question explores the hidden assumptions behind a philosophical sounding statement about mind and body. The statement says that the mind is the source of all human actions, yet the body is given more importance. You are asked which assumptions, if any, are taken for granted. This type of question checks your ability to separate explicit claims from implicit beliefs that make the statement meaningful.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
The phrase yet the body is given more importance clearly expresses a contrast between the true source of actions (mind) and the importance people actually give. The speaker is suggesting that the mind deserves more recognition than it gets. That viewpoint is very close to Assumption I. On the other hand, Assumption III is essentially a restatement of the first part of the statement in different words, so it is not an assumption but an explicit part. Assumption II goes slightly further by judging the importance given to the body as undeserved, which is stronger than what is strictly needed to express the contrast.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the key parts of the statement.Step 2: The first part claims that the mind is the source of all human actions. This is a direct assertion. It is equivalent to saying every action starts from the mind or brain, which matches Assumption III.Step 3: However, because this idea is explicitly stated, it does not qualify as an assumption; assumptions are unstated beliefs that must hold for the statement to make sense.Step 4: The second part says yet the body is given more importance. By using yet, the speaker indicates that this current emphasis on the body is contrary to what would be expected from the mind's central role.Step 5: This implies that the mind is undervalued relative to its importance, which aligns with Assumption I: the mind is not given proper importance.Step 6: Assumption II, the body is getting undeserved importance, is a stronger evaluative claim. The statement itself merely says the body is given more importance, not explicitly that it is undeserved or wrong, though that may be hinted.Step 7: To understand the contrast, it is enough to assume that the mind is undervalued. We do not strictly need to assume a full moral judgment that the body's importance is undeserved in every sense.Step 8: Therefore, Assumption I is clearly implicit, Assumption III is explicitly stated rather than assumed, and Assumption II goes beyond what is necessary.
Verification / Alternative check:
Suppose the statement is made in a discussion. The speaker may be suggesting that people focus too much on physical appearance and not enough on mental development. This viewpoint obviously implies that the mind is not getting the importance it deserves, which is Assumption I. However, the same speaker might still accept that in some contexts, the body must be cared for, without calling all attention to the body undeserved. The meaning of the statement stands as long as the mind is undervalued, not necessarily that the body receives entirely undeserved attention.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Common Pitfalls:
Final Answer:
Only assumption I is implicit: the mind is not given proper importance.
Discussion & Comments