Collectors prize the ancient life-size clay statues of human figures made on Kali Island but have long wondered how Kalinese artists were able to depict bodies with such realistic precision.

Collectors prize the ancient life-size clay statues of human figures made on Kali Island but have long wondered how Kalinese artists were able to depict bodies with such realistic precision.

In this argument, the arguer claims collectors’ prediction that the life-size sculptures will decrease in value while the miniatures increase in value. To justify the claim, the arguer points out several facts. However, this argument suffers from several critical logic flaws.

Firstly, we are not informed whether the artists who used molds of actual bodies didn’t use sculpturing tools and techniques. To be specific, in order to depict bodies precisely, the artists might use the molds firstly, and then use sculpturing tools and techniques to perfect the details, such as polishing the surface of statues. Chances are that they used sculpturing tools to complete tiny details of the statues of human figures, such as eyes and nose on one’s face, and the fingers and wrinkles on one’s body. Without taking into consideration such possibilities, the author fails to substantiate his claim that artists only use molds.

Secondly, another question that is needed to be answered is whether the style of miniature statues are decided by other factors. Possibilities are that different statues are designed and sculptured for distinct functions. While life-size sculpture might be used as decorations in palaces, the miniature statues might be made as burial objects according to Kali’s culture practice, so there’s no need perfecting the miniature ones and they were built in totally different style. Either of the scenarios, if true, would render the author’s conclusion unfounded.

Lastly, without answering the question whether there are other factors determining the price of sculptures, the author fails to convince us that the argument is complete and substantiated. Besides production process, the beauty of these statues, the complexity of the sculptures and the integrity of these statues might be taken into consideration when we judge their value. Moreover, the artist who made such a wonderful statue is also a key factor. The life-size sculpture from a famous producer may be valued much more expensive than a miniature one produced anonymously regardless of the production process. Without ruling out these possibilities, the author cannot convince us that the conclusion is cogent.

To sum up, this arguer fails to substantiate his claim that the life-size sculptures will decrease in value while the miniatures increase in value, because the questions remained in the analysis does not lend strong support to what the arguer maintains.