Counselor: Constantly comparing oneself to those one sees as more able

Question

Counselor: Constantly comparing oneself to those one sees as more able or more successful almost invariably leads to self- disparagement. Conversely, constantly comparing oneself to those one sees as less able or less successful almost invariably leads to being dismissive of others. So, those who for the most part refrain from comparing themselves to others will most likely be, on the whole, self-accepting and accepting of others.

The counselor’s reasoning is most vulnerable to criticism because it

(A) overlooks the possibility that one can compare oneself both to those one perceives to be more able and more successful than oneself and to those one perceives to be less able and less successful than oneself

(B) overlooks the possibility that constantly comparing oneself to others may have beneficial effects that those who refrain from making such comparisons are deprived of

(C) takes for granted that if one is both dismissive of others and self-disparaging, one will not be self-accepting and accepting of others

(D) overlooks the possibility that self-disparagement and being dismissive of others can result from something other than comparing oneself to others

(E) takes for granted that whenever one compares oneself to others one sees them as more successful and more able than oneself or less successful and less able than oneself

Bunuel · Accepted Answer

EXPLANATION FROM Fox LSAT

The argument proposes two ways to be miserable: 1) Compare yourself to people better off than you, and you’ll feel like a loser. 2) Compare yourself to people worse off than you, and you’ll become a pompous dick. Okay, I’m with you so far. But then the conclusion goes off the rails with, “Therefore if you don’t do 1 or 2, you won’t feel like a loser and you won’t be a dick.” But that’s the classic error of conditional reasoning, assuming that the arrow goes both ways! A direct parallel to this stupid argument would be, “If you’re at AT&T Park then you’re in San Francisco, and if you’re at Dodger Stadium then you’re in Los Angeles, so if you’re not at AT&T Park or Dodger Stadium then you’re not in San Francisco or Los Angeles.” That is foolish.

The question asks us to find a weakness or flaw in the logic, and I think I’ve done that pretty well already. Let’s see what the answer choices have for us.

A) Nah, this is something like “overlooks the possibility that one can compare oneself to both people that are better and worse than oneself,” which is interesting, but not the biggest problem in the argument. I want an answer that points out the devastating sufficient-vs.-necessary flaw. Next please.

B) This is something like “overlooks the possibility that being a dick might have beneficial effects,” which is also not what I am looking for. Let’s keep looking.

C) The argument never considered what would happen if one was both a dick and felt like a loser, so this can’t possibly be the flaw in the argument. The argument did not do this.

D) Yep. The argument assumed that if you don’t compare yourself to those better off than you then you can’t feel like a loser, which is simply not true. There are probably  lots  of ways to feel like a loser. Similarly, the argument assumed that if you don’t compare yourself to the less fortunate, you can’t be a dick. And we all know that there are lots of ways to be a dick. This answer choice describes the problem with the classic sufficient-vs.-necessary flaw. This has got to be it.

E) The argument didn’t mention what would happen if you compared yourself to someone in the middle (neither better or worse off than oneself), and maybe this is a shortcoming in the argument. But answer D describes a classic flaw that is tested over and over and over on the LSAT.

Our answer is D.

winterschool · Answer

Counselor: Constantly comparing oneself to those one sees as more able or more successful almost invariably leads to self- disparagement. Conversely, constantly comparing oneself to those one sees as less able or less successful almost invariably leads to being dismissive of others. So, those who for the most part refrain from comparing themselves to others will most likely be, on the whole, self-accepting and accepting of others.

The counselor’s reasoning is most vulnerable to criticism because it

(A) overlooks the possibility that one can compare oneself both to those one perceives to be more able and more successful than oneself and to those one perceives to be less able and less successful than oneself  Incorrect

not true

(B)  overlooks the possibility that constantly comparing oneself to others may have beneficial effects that those who refrain from making such comparisons are deprived of   Correct

argument ignores this fact, possible answer

(C) takes for granted that if one is both dismissive of others and self-disparaging, one will not be self-accepting and accepting of others  Incorrect

argument is not granted that one is both dismissive of others and self-disparaging

(D) overlooks the possibility that self-disparagement and being dismissive of others can result from something other than comparing oneself to others  Incorrect

contradicts with argument

(E) takes for granted that whenever one compares oneself to others one sees them as more successful and more able than oneself or less successful and less able than oneself  Incorrect

not true

100mitra · Answer

Correct Option D Little warm up

Disprage : regard or represent as being of little worth Dismissive : feeling unworthy Below Counselor has used 2 condition to come to conclusion of 3rd condition. Counselor: 1.) Constant compare : Oneself = More able & Successful = self disparagement 2.) Conversely compare : Oneself = less able or successful = being dismissive of others. Therefore, from 1 and 2: Conclusion : comparison with oneself to another, either one will be disparage or dismissive, not ~both or ~more So, 3.) Refrain compare : Oneself = Others will = self-accepting and accepting of others The counselor’s reasoning is most vulnerable to criticism because it Eliminate C, and E : Both have wrong comparasion done, and both are not reasonable for criticism. Option C : Oneself (disparage + dismissive) compared with self or others accepting - this is not refer to condition 1, and 2 as mentioned above. Option E : oneself compared oneself either (more successful and more able) or (less successful and less able) In option - D Counselor overlooks the possibility, which makes option D correct is " the other factors " for getting disparage and getting dismissive rather than comparison with oneself to others, this calls for criticism, why only 2 condition are considered for result, their could be more other ways to compare one with other - result from something other than comparing oneself to others In option A - can follow individually as per condition 1, and 2 as mentioned above. In option B - comparison with benefits, is wrong. Makes both no invite to criticism IMO - D

sivatx2 · Answer

Premise 1: Compare Successful people ---> Self-disparage
Premise 2: Compare lesser one ---> dismissive
Conclusion: Compare success & lesser success people --> Both Self-disparage & dismissive of others.
 
To weaken the argument, we need to understand can self-disparage & dismissive of others can be caused by reasons other than comparing with others?

This is because, the author did not consider in the argument those people who doesn't compare themselves to others and will not self-disparage or be dismissive to others. For example, its possible for people can be dejected because they couldn't meet the standard that they set for themselves. Hence, the argument misses that self-disparagement and dismissive of others may be caused by other reason(s) than comparing themselves to others.

The counselor’s reasoning is most vulnerable to criticism because it

(A) overlooks the possibility that one can compare oneself both to those one perceives to be more able and more successful than oneself and to those one perceives to be less able and less successful than oneself 
 This is false, as the argument did not overlook to compare oneself to others inclusive of all successful & less successful people. Eliminate.

(B) overlooks the possibility that constantly comparing oneself to others may have beneficial effects that those who refrain from making such comparisons are deprived of 
 Beneficial effects is irrelevant to the argument. Eliminate.

(C) takes for granted that if one is both dismissive of others and self-disparaging, one will not be self-accepting and accepting of others 
 This does not weaken as there could be people who are dismissive on lesser successful people and self-disparaging when they see successful people. Both can coexist and hence cannot weaken the argument. Eliminate.

(D) overlooks the possibility that self-disparagement and being dismissive of others can result from something other than comparing oneself to others 
 This is as per the analysis, and hence, D is the correct choice.

(E) takes for granted that whenever one compares oneself to others one sees them as more successful and more able than oneself or less successful and less able than oneself 
 This contradicts the fact provided in the premises. The argument does not assume that one will always compare with others. Hence this is false. Eliminate

VerbalBot · Answer

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Counselor: Constantly comparing oneself to those one sees as more able

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