All actions are motivated by self-interest, since any action

Question

All actions are motivated by self-interest, since any action that is apparently altruistic can be described in terms of self-interest. For example, helping someone can be described in terms of self-interest: the motivation is hope for a reward or other personal benefit to be bestowed as a result of the helping action. 

Which one of the following most accurately describes an error in the argument's reasoning?

A) The term "self-interest" is allowed to shift in meaning over the course of the argument.
B) The argument takes evidence showing merely that its conclusion could be true to constitute evidence showing that the conclusion is in fact true.
C) The argument does not explain what is meant by "reward" and "personal benefit".
D) The argument ignores the possibility that what is taken to be necessary for a certain interest to be a motivation actually suffices to show that the interest is a motivation
E) The argument depends for its appeal only on the emotional content of the example cited.

ranga41 · Answer

THis is a very tough question because to answer this rationaly we have to beat a lot of subconsious moral thinking

To me the contest is between B and D, I think i will go with  B , dont feel good on this one

gmataquaguy · Answer

I was also between B and D and couldnt dechiper what D means. What the heck does AC D mean and how it is applicable to the passage/argument stem.

christoph · Answer

i think its D) b/c it says that not the motivation for reward is the interest because the action itself is the motivation. so it may be possible that the action to help someone is motivation enough.

HIMALAYA · Answer

go with D and agree with christopher's nice explanation. the argument ignors the possibility of any action that is taken just because of motivation to help others.

Bhai · Answer

This is a super question of lawyer's type. I will go with B.

gmataquaguy · Answer

The OA is B. I was between B and D. I couldnt parse AC D very well. 

Could someone break down/translate what AC D really means. I saw Chris's response but dont understand how it parses AC D. 

Your help is greatly appreciated.

christoph · Answer

i try it again. 

the author states that "all actions are motivated by self-interest". thats his opinion. then he gives an example to show that its true. B) says that the only reason why the author states the evidence is to show that his conclusion is true. so the evidence is in favour of the conclusion and thats the only reason why the author states it. so the error is that the evidence is no real evidence b/c its totally subjective. an author who has an opposite opinion could interpret the evidence totally different.

ok. what about D) ? D) says that it is possible that someone helps without any self-interest. but that is not the question. we dont want to attack the conclusion of the author. we only want attack his line of reasoning. D) attacks his conclusion and B) attacks his line of reasoning. so only B) is right.

what is the source of all your questions, gmataquaguy ? is it LSAT ?

gmataquaguy · Answer

Chris,
 The source of these questions are "Official" LSAT papers. Thanks for the explanation.

kwasi7 · Answer

I agree with OA. picked B.

All actions are motivated by self-interest, since any action

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