LSAT 104 – Section 1 – Question 14

LSAT 104 - Section 1 - Question 14

December 1998

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT104 S1 Q14
+LR
Argument part +AP
A
1%
152
B
82%
169
C
5%
159
D
8%
163
E
5%
162
141
152
162
 +Medium 149.106 +SubsectionMedium

Critic: Many popular psychological theories are poor theories in that they are inelegant and do not help to dispel the mystery that surrounds our psyche. However, this is not really important. The theories produce the right results: therapeutically, they tend to have greater success than their more scientific rivals.

Summarize Argument: Counter-Position
The critic believes that it doesn’t really matter that some popular psychological theories are inelegant and don’t demystify the mind. To support this, the critic explains that these popular theories tend to give better results in therapy than the more elegant, more explanatory theories. This indicates that the popular theories have practical merit, thus supporting the critic’s conclusion that their inelegance isn’t important.

Identify Argument Part
The statement about relative therapeutic success is used to support the conclusion that the inelegance of some popular theories is not especially important. In other words, this statement helps to rebut a criticism of some popular theories.

A
It is used to disprove evidence against these theories.
Like (C) and (E), the argument doesn’t do this. The critic never attempts to disprove the claims made against the popular theories. Instead, the argument is about focusing on a different aspect: practicality rather than scientific merit.
B
It is used to override some considerations against these theories.
This is a good description of the role played by the claim about relative therapeutic success. The critic uses this claim as evidence that the criticism isn’t important, and that the considerations against the popular theories should be overridden by their therapeutic value.
C
It is used to suggest that popular psychological theories are actually better scientific explanations than are their rivals.
Like (A) and (E), no part of the argument does this; the critic never disputes that the popular theories are scientifically weaker. Instead, the argument redirects the focus from scientific merit to practical merit.
D
It is used to illustrate what the critic takes to be the most important aspect of scientific theories.
There’s nothing in the argument about what the critic takes to be the most important aspect of scientific theories, especially not in an absolute sense among all possible aspects. Nothing in the argument tells us this.
E
It is used to suggest that the popular theories may not be as devoid of explanatory power as one may be led to believe.
Like (A) and (C), this isn’t something that the argument suggests. The critic never tries to debate the popular theories’ lack of explanatory power.

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LSAT PrepTest 104 Explanations

Section 1 - Logical Reasoning

Section 2 - Reading Comprehension

Section 3 - Reading Comprehension

Section 4 - Logical Reasoning

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