LSAT 111 – Section 1 – Question 23

LSAT 111 - Section 1 - Question 23

October 2001

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT111 S1 Q23
+LR
Flaw or descriptive weakening +Flaw
Conditional Reasoning +CondR
Link Assumption +LinkA
A
38%
169
B
45%
162
C
3%
158
D
3%
158
E
11%
164
162
170
178
 +Hardest 147.471 +SubsectionMedium

Some statisticians claim that the surest way to increase the overall correctness of the total set of one’s beliefs is: never change that set, except by rejecting a belief when given adequate evidence against it. However, if this were the only rule one followed, then whenever one were presented with any kind of evidence, one would have to either reject some of one’s beliefs or else leave one’s beliefs unchanged. But then, over time, one could only have fewer and fewer beliefs. Since we need many beliefs in order to survive, the statisticians’ claim must be mistaken.

Summarize Argument
The author concludes that it is not correct to believe that the surest way to increase the overall correctness of a set of one’s beliefs is to never change the set, except by rejecting a belief when given adequate evidence against it. This is based on the author’s assertion that, if one were to follow that approach, then over time, one would have fewer and fewer beliefs. But, we need many beliefs in order to survive. (The implication is that following the approach described would threaten our ability to survive.)

Identify and Describe Flaw
The author’s premises establish that following the approach described threatens our ability to survive. But that doesn’t show that the approach isn’t the surest way to increase the overall correctness of one’s set of beliefs. Why can’t the surest way to increase overall correctness also threaten our survival?

A
presumes, without providing any justification, that the surest way of increasing the overall correctness of the total set of one’s beliefs must not hinder one’s ability to survive
The author assumes that the fact the approach described hurts our ability to survive shows that it’s not the surest way to increase overall correctness. (A) captures the author’s assumed connection between hurting survival and the surest way to increase overall correctness.
B
neglects the possibility that even while following the statisticians’ rule, one might also accept new beliefs when presented with some kinds of evidence
The statisticians’ rule does not allow for accepting new beliefs. So the author doesn’t overlook this possibility.
C
overlooks the possibility that some large sets of beliefs are more correct overall than are some small sets of beliefs
The author never takes a position on whether larger sets of beliefs are more or less correct than smaller sets. The possibility in (C), if true, would not undermine the author’s reasoning.
D
takes for granted that one should accept some beliefs related to survival even when given adequate evidence against them
The author never takes a position on what one “should” do. The argument is simply about whether a particular approach is the surest way to increasing overall correctness of beliefs. What one should believe or not believe doesn’t affect the reasoning.
E
takes for granted that the beliefs we need in order to have many beliefs must all be correct beliefs
The argument concerns the overall correctness of a set of beliefs and the need for many beliefs to survive. Perhaps some beliefs can be false within a set of many beliefs; this doesn’t undermine the reasoning.

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LSAT PrepTest 111 Explanations

Section 1 - Logical Reasoning

Section 2 - Reading Comprehension

Section 3 - Logical Reasoning

Section 4 - Logical Reasoning

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