LSAT 150 – Section 3 – Question 22

LSAT 150 - Section 3 - Question 22

June 2018

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Question QuickView	Type	Tags	Answer Choices	Curve	Question Difficulty	Psg/Game/S Difficulty	Explanation
PT150 S3 Q22	+LR	Flaw or descriptive weakening +Flaw	A 27% 162 B 13% 157 C 2% 152 D 25% 161 E 33% 166	160 169 179	+Hardest	148.057 +SubsectionMedium

Commentator: Unfortunately, Roehmer’s opinion column has a polarizing effect on national politics. She has always taken a partisan stance, and lately she has taken the further step of impugning the motives of her adversaries. That style of argumentation is guaranteed not to change the minds of people with opposing viewpoints; it only alienates them. But that is likely not a problem for Roehmer, since her column is just an attempt to please her loyal readers.

Summarize Argument

The author concludes that Roehmer’s style of argumentation — which involves criticizing the motives of her adversaries — is not a problem for Roehmer. The author supports this conclusion by asserting that Roehmer’s column is just an attempt to please her readers.

Identify and Describe Flaw

The argument inappropriately comments on the motivations of Roehmer’s column, even though it criticizes Roehmer for “impugning the motives of her adversaries.” (This isn’t necessarily something most would identify up front. You probably need to get to this flaw through process of elimination.)

fails to rule out the possibility that a purported cause of a phenomenon is actually an effect of that phenomenon

The argument isn’t trying to establish a causal relationship. Although the first sentence notes that Roehmer’s column has affected national politics, that statement isn’t the conclusion. So pointing out that there might be a reversal of cause and effect doesn’t hurt the argument.

criticizes a column merely by invoking the personal characteristics of its author

The author does not “merely invoke the personal characteristics” of Roehmer. The author comments on the effects of Roehmer’s impugning the motives of her adversaries, as well as Roehmer’s motivation. But neither of these are Roehmer’s personal characteristics.

concludes that one event caused another merely because that event occurred immediately prior to the other

The argument isn’t trying to establish a causal relationship. Although the first sentence notes that Roehmer’s column has affected national politics, that statement isn’t the conclusion. The author also doesn’t rely merely on the timing of two events as a premise.

contradicts itself in its portrayal of Roehmer’s column

The author doesn’t say contradictory things about Roehmer’s column. The author doesn’t say “Roehmer’s column is X” but also “Roehmer’s column is Not X.”

employs a tactic at one point that it elsewhere objects to

The author objects to Roehmer’s impugning the motives of her adversaries. But the author uses this same tactic — he criticizes Roehmer’s motivation as “just an attempt to please her loyal readers.”

In addition to the explanation given in the video for (E), here's another way to think about why (E) is the right answer. The Commentator relied on an appeal to the principle that one shall not impugn one's adversary's motives to establish his charge against Roehmer. But in his very argument, he violates that principle. So he's vulnerable to the very same criticism that he's charging Roehmer with. So, you or I could come along and say to him, which is it Commentator? Impugn okay or impugn not okay? If impugn not okay, then your argument fails because it impugns. If impugn okay, then your main argument against Roehmer fails. You lose either way. That's what (E) calls out, the inconsistency in the reasoning.

LSAT 150 – Section 3 – Question 22

LSAT 150 - Section 3 - Question 22

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LSAT PrepTest 150 Explanations

Section 1 - Reading Comprehension

Section 2 - Logical Reasoning

Section 3 - Logical Reasoning

Section 4 - Reading Comprehension

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