Newspaper subscriber: Arnot's editorial argues that by making certain

Question

Newspaper subscriber: Arnot's editorial argues that by making certain fundamental changes in government, we would virtually eliminate our most vexing social ills. But clearly this conclusion is false. After all, the argument Arnot makes for this claim depends on the dubious assumption that government can be trusted to act in the interest of the public.

Which one of the following most accurately expresses a flaw in the argument's reasoning?

(A) It repudiates a claim merely on the ground that an inadequate argument has been given for it

(B) It treats a change that is required for virtual elimination of society's most vexing social ills as a change that will guarantee the virtual elimination of those ills

(C) It fails to consider that, even if an argument's conclusion is false, some of the assumptions used to justify that conclusion may nonetheless be true

(D) It distorts the opponent's argument and then attacks this distorted argument

(E) It uses a key term "government" in one sense in a premise and in another sense in the conclusion

nightblade354 · Accepted Answer

Newspaper subscriber: Arnot's editorial argues that by making certain fundamental changes in government, we would virtually eliminate our most vexing social ills. But clearly this conclusion is false. After all, the argument Arnot makes for this claim depends on the dubious assumption that government can be trusted to act in the interest of the public.

Which one of the following most accurately expresses a flaw in the argument's reasoning?

(A) It repudiates a claim merely on the ground that an inadequate argument has been given for it --  The author says X. We say that the author is missing something, so it cannot be true. This is our flaw. Just because we do not believe a good argument was made for something (the stated dubious assumption) doesn't make it an impossibility. It could still very much be a valid point. If you claim that the world will collapse in 5 years due to climate change, and I say "That is impossible. You are relying on a dumb assumption. Therefore, me being the smartest person in the world, I know that this cannot be true. Ever." This is a HUGE flaw in our argument!

(B) It treats a change that is required for virtual elimination of society's most vexing social ills as a change that will guarantee the virtual elimination of those ills --  The argument says virtually eliminate, not eliminate all together. And we are arguing that this CANNOT happen. Further, this is so far off base it is not even funny. Where do we state that something is required for something?

(C) It fails to consider that, even if an argument's conclusion is false, some of the assumptions used to justify that conclusion may nonetheless be true --  But the goal of this argument is talking about the conclusion, not the underlying assumptions. Out.

(D) It distorts the opponent's argument and then attacks this distorted argument --  It does not. We say it is relying on shaky information. We do not distort any view point; we do not change any conclusions or claims made. Out.

(E) It uses a key term "government" in one sense in a premise and in another sense in the conclusion --  Nope. Government remains the same throughout (by the way, how could government be used differently? I am thinking government of X versus Y, but even then it is still government). This is tricky in that if you get to (E) and did not select (A), you probably go with it because you are confused and are out of time.

Prateek1793 · Answer

I dont understand why option C is incorrect.

AvidDreamer09 · Answer

Should it not be trust(/-ed)? (typo)

What a question i spent 5 mins

Part 1(Arnot's argument): X change would solve Y
Part 2 (Newspapers Conclusion): claim X is dependent on assumption P and therefore false.

After reading answer choice D and E i felt like the question was asking one to find the role of part 2 (do correct me if I'm wrong? cause when i tried to find weakener i was stuck between a and c)

A says it rejects X because part 1 provides insufficient evidence and is therefore false (part 2 is doing just that)

B merely paraphrases part 1

C says the assumption may be true but the conclusion is false. but Part 2 says that assumption is false and hence conclusion 
is false )

D Part 2 does not distort the argument. Part 2 says it just depends on a doubtful assumption

E does not specify role of Part 2. even if the term is used interchangeably.

warrior1991 · Answer

GMATNinja   generis   VeritasKarishma

Please help. What is wrong with option C??

I somehow feel that this is not the right question to practice for GMAT. Am I correct in saying this??

KarishmaB · Answer

I don't think this is an official LSAT question. Option (A) doesn't make much sense to me and neither does any other option. 
Would request a screenshot of the question and solution given.

nightblade354 · Answer

VeritasKarishma , the screenshot is attached. As the one who uploaded this, I can assure you that this, indeed, an official LSAT question. It is question #14, of section 3, of Prep test 64. I will provide an OE in a different post once I have time to write out a thorough explanation.

SnigdhaM · Answer

can anyone explain why option B is incorrect

KarishmaB · Answer

Ok. If possible, put up the official explanation too please. I am not convinced of the options so would like to read what the official test maker has to say.

nightblade354 · Answer

VeritasKarishma , I do not believe I have access to the OE. To be honest, I am skeptical that they even exist in the books. Here is MGMAT's: https://www.manhattanprep.com/lsat/foru ... t5498.html Here is Powerscore's: https://forum.powerscore.com/lsat/viewtopic.php?t=1909 And you have mine above. If you have further questions, please let me know.

CEdward · Answer

C is the 'best' choice...A is categorically wrong. The author does NOT repudiate the editorial on the grounds that the argument is INADEQUATE, he/she merely expresses skepticism about whether the desired outcome is achievable, reasoning that perhaps the government's interests are not aligned with the goal of achieving greater social good.

veeveeaaa · Answer

C is descriptively wrong. Had answer choice C been "it fails to consider that even if an argument's assumption is false, the conclusion may nonetheless be true," it would be the correct answer.

However, answer choice C says the opposite of what I described.

A is categorically  correct . Stating that a conclusion is false simply because such a conclusion was inadequately constructed is a flaw. Think of a bad lawyer representing an innocent person wrongly accused of committing a crime. The person is innocent regardless of the bad arguments that the lawyer might use on trial.

Also, the newspaper subscriber concludes that the argument is  inadequate   by saying that "clearly this conclusion is false." The subscriber's premise is that Arnot's assumption is dubious.

veeveeaaa · Answer

"it treats a change that is required for virtual elimination of society's most vexing social ills as a change that will guarantee the virtual elimination of those ills"

I think the author is trying to trick you into thinking that the subscriber confused necessity with requirement.

However, I fail to see where Arnot's editorial argued for a requirement. Moreover, even if it did, I don't see the subscriber confusing anything. The subscriber simply concludes that the editorial's claim is false because the subscriber is suspicious of the assumption made by Arnot's editorial.

VerbalBot · Answer

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