Commentator: In academic scholarship, sources are always cited, and methodology and theoretical assumptions are set out, so as to allow critical study, replication, and expansion of scholarship. In open-source software, the code in which the program is written can be viewed and modified by individual users for their purposes without getting permission from the producer or paying a fee. In contrast, the code of proprietary software is kept secret, and modifications can be made only by the producer, for a fee. This shows that open-source software better matches the values embodied in academic scholarship, and since scholarship is central to the mission of universities, universities should use only open-source software.
The commentator’s reasoning most closely conforms to which one of the following principles?
(A) Whatever software tools are most advanced and can achieve the goals of academic scholarship are the ones that should alone be used in universities.
(B) Universities should use the type of software technology that is least expensive, as long as that type of software technology is adequate for the purposes of academic scholarship.
(C) Universities should choose the type of software technology that best matches the values embodied in the activities that are central to the mission of universities.
(D) The form of software technology that best matches the values embodied in the activities that are central to the mission of universities is the form of software technology that is most efficient for universities to use.
(E) A university should not pursue any activity that would block the achievement of the goals of academic scholarship at that university.
A. The argument never referenced using the “most advanced” software tools, so this is irrelevant.
B. While open-source software is free, the stimulus emphasized the ability to modify and replicate it—not its cost. Also, calling it merely “adequate” downplays the argument's stronger endorsement. The stimulus focused on scholarly values, not just general purposes.
C. Correct. This aligns with the conclusion: open-source software aligns best with the values central to academic scholarship.
D. Efficiency wasn’t mentioned, and the argument was about what universities should use—not what is merely efficient. Efficiency alone doesn’t determine the best choice.
E. The conclusion was prescriptive—about what universities should do—whereas this choice only says what they shouldn’t do, making it a poor match.
