LSAT 136 – Section 2 – Question 15

LSAT 136 - Section 2 - Question 15

June 2012

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Question QuickView	Type	Tags	Answer Choices	Curve	Question Difficulty	Psg/Game/S Difficulty	Explanation
PT136 S2 Q15	+LR	Flaw or descriptive weakening +Flaw Causal Reasoning +CausR Link Assumption +LinkA	A 4% 156 B 5% 157 C 5% 157 D 1% 155 E 85% 165	140 148 157	+Medium	146.855 +SubsectionMedium

Commentator: Many social critics claim that contemporary journalists’ cynical tendency to look for selfish motives behind the seemingly altruistic actions of powerful people undermines our society’s well-being by convincing people that success is invariably associated with greed and mendacity. But the critics’ claim is absurd. The cynicism of contemporary journalists cannot be a contributing factor to the undermining of our society’s well-being, for journalists have always been cynics. Today’s journalists are, if anything, more restrained than their predecessors.

Summarize Argument: Counter-Position

The author concludes that the cynicism of contemporary journalists does not undermine our society’s well-being. This is based on the fact that journalists have always been cynics.

Identify and Describe Flaw

The author assumes that the well-being of society has not been undermined in the past due to journalists’ cynicism. This overlooks the possibility that society has been undermined from the cynicism that has always existed.

widespread cynicism is beneficial to the well-being of society

We’re concerned with the cynicism of journalists. The effects of “widespread” cynicism, which would include others besides journalists, doesn’t affect the argument’s reasoning. Also, cynicism being beneficial doesn’t help show that it can undermine well-being.

cynicism about the motives of powerful people increases with the amount of information one has about them

Whether cynicism increases the information one has about someone has no impact on whether journalists’ cynicism undermines society.

the work of contemporary journalists reflects a cynicism that is not really genuine

Whether journalists’ cynicism is genuine or not genuine is irrelevant; what matters is whether that cynicism undermines the well-being of society.

any accurate description of human behavior portrays it as selfish

Whether accurate descriptions of behavior portray such behavior has selfish has no impact on whether journalists’ cynicism undermines society’s well-being.

cynicism of this type on the part of journalists has always had a negative effect on the well-being of society

This possibility, if true, shows that the fact journalists have always been cynics does not prove their cynicism doesn’t undermine society’s well-being. This well-being has always been undermined as a result of journalists’ cynicism.

LSAT 136 – Section 2 – Question 15

LSAT 136 - Section 2 - Question 15

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LSAT PrepTest 136 Explanations

Section 1 - Reading Comprehension

Section 2 - Logical Reasoning

Section 3 - Reading Comprehension

Section 4 - Logical Reasoning

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