LSAT 125 – Section 2 – Question 12

LSAT 125 - Section 2 - Question 12

June 2008

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT125 S2 Q12
+LR
Most strongly supported +MSS
Link Assumption +LinkA
A
1%
156
B
12%
158
C
3%
154
D
83%
163
E
0%
151
129
142
155
 +Medium 145.417 +SubsectionEasier

Ethicist: Although science is frequently said to be morally neutral, it has a traditional value system of its own. For example, scientists sometimes foresee that a line of theoretical research they are pursuing will yield applications that could seriously harm people, animals, or the environment. Yet, according to science’s traditional value system, such consequences do not have to be considered in deciding whether to pursue that research. Ordinary morality, in contrast, requires that we take the foreseeable consequences of our actions into account whenever we are deciding what to do.

Summary

Science has a traditional value system of its own. For example, scientists sometimes foresee research yielding harmful consequences. However, according to scientist’s traditional value system, these consequences do not have to be considered when deciding what to research. In contrast, ordinary morality would require taking foreseeable consequences into account when deciding what to do.

Strongly Supported Conclusions

Sometimes scientists may follow their traditional value system and violate ordinary morality at the same time.

A
Scientists should not be held responsible for the consequences of their research.

This answer is unsupported. The stimulus does not suggest what scientists should or should not be held accountable for. The stimulus is limited to the contrast between two different value systems.

B
According to the dictates of ordinary morality, scientists doing research that ultimately turns out to yield harmful applications are acting immorally.

This answer is unsupported. Ordinary morality requires taking foreseeable consequences into account. If the harm that results in this answer choice is not foreseeable, then scientists cannot be said to be violating ordinary morality.

C
Science is morally neutral because it assigns no value to the consequences of theoretical research.

This answer is unsupported. We don’t know from the stimulus whether science is in fact morally neutral. We only know that science is frequently said to be morally neutral.

D
It is possible for scientists to both adhere to the traditional values of their field and violate a principle of ordinary morality.

This answer is strongly supported. Scientists’ traditional value system does not require taking into account foreseeable consequences, while ordinary morality does.

E
The uses and effects of scientifically acquired knowledge can never be adequately foreseen.

This answer is unsupported. To say that these can “never” be adequately foreseen is too strong. It’s possible that these effects can be adequately foreseen, it’s just that the traditional value system for science does not require scientists to take these effects into account.

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LSAT PrepTest 125 Explanations

Section 1 - Reading Comprehension

Section 2 - Logical Reasoning

Section 3 - Reading Comprehension

Section 4 - Logical Reasoning

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