LSAT 111 – Section 4 – Question 09

LSAT 111 - Section 4 - Question 09

October 2001

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Target time: 1:09

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Question
QuickView		 Type Tags Answer
Choices		 Curve Question
Difficulty		 Psg/Game/S
Difficulty		 Explanation
PT111 S4 Q09
+LR
Main conclusion or main point +MC
Conditional Reasoning +CondR
A
0%
160
B
1%
149
C
1%
153
D
96%
165
E
2%
157
125
134
144
 +Easiest 144.86 +SubsectionEasier

Kevin’s explanation

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Moralist: Humans have a natural disposition to altruism—that is, to behavior that serves the needs of others regardless of one’s own needs—but that very disposition prevents some acts of altruism from counting as moral. Reason plays an essential role in any moral behavior. Only behavior that is intended to be in accordance with a formal set of rules, or moral code, can be considered moral behavior.

Summarize Argument
The author tells us that some acts of altruism are not truly moral. The argument provides support through conditional reasoning. We learn that behavior is only moral if it is intended to follow a moral code. Humans are naturally altruistic, which suggests that some altruistic behavior is instinctive, rather than being intentional. Those instinctive acts, then, are not really moral behavior.
P1. Moral behavior → intentionally moral;
P2. Not all altruism is intentionally moral;
Therefore, not all altruism is moral behavior.

Identify Conclusion
The conclusion is the author’s claim that some acts of altruism do not count as moral acts.

A
All moral codes prohibit selfishness.
This is not stated in the argument. In fact, the author doesn’t provide any information about what moral codes actually say.
B
All moral behavior is motivated by altruism.
This is not stated in the argument. All we are told about moral behavior is that it must intentionally follow a moral code. If there are other necessary factors, we don’t know them.
C
Behavior must serve the needs of others in order to be moral behavior.
This is not stated in the argument. The only requirement we know for moral behavior is that it has to be intentionally moral; we’re never told that helping others is necessary.
D
Not all altruistic acts are moral behavior.
This is a good paraphrase of the conclusion. By taking the general rule that moral behavior must be intentional, and telling us that some altruism isn’t intentional, the author supports the claim that some altruism isn’t really moral behavior.
E
Altruism develops through the use of reason.
This is not stated in the argument. Reason may be essential to morality, but we aren’t told much about its relationship with altruism.

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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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