#8 - Philosopher: It has been argued that because particular

[Administrator]

Complete Question Explanation

Fill in the Blank - MBT. The correct answer choice is (C).

The conclusion is that morality does not need to be entirely a product of culture and can be grounded in some universal human nature. The justification is that some moral attitudes are shared across all cultures. The stimulus ends with an analogy - just as universal tastes can provide the bases for many different cuisines ____.

We are asked to fill in the blank. Based on the argument's premise and the analogy the author used, we should be looking for an answer choice that says certain universal moral attitudes can provide different moral codes among cultures. Answer choice (C) most closely does this.

Answer choice (A) - this does not match the author's analogy about tastes being universal and it goes against the author's argument.

Answer choice (B) - this does not match the analogy, which says that some universal tastes are reflected differently in various cultural cuisines.

Answer choice (D) - this may be true, but it does not logically complete the author's argument, it is just additional information.

Answer choice (E) - this is not the author's argument, so it cannot be the right answer.

[LSAT99.9]

Hello,

Why is E incorrect? My logic was this: the argument states that certain moral attitudes are shared across cultures and then uses an analogy showing how certain universal tastes can suit the needs of many different cultures. Therefore, why is it incorrect to draw the idea that moral attitudes (some of which are universal) can be adapted to suit the codes of many different cultures? Wouldn't this also show that morality can be grounded in some universal human nature since the moral attitudes on which the different moral codes are based are universal moral attitudes ?

Thank you.

[Zierra28]

Was the answer C because the Universal tastes (saltiness/sweetness) are, per the analogy, the BASE and equal to Moral attitudes (unfairness/cruelty), and C is basically saying that MA's provide the BASE for MCs (moral codes)?

[Claire Horan]

C is the best answer. Just as sweetness and saltiness are the basis of many different cuisines, shared moral attitudes provide the basis for many different moral codes. Note the parallels: both include the idea of a basis or grounding, both talk about universal ingredients giving rise to variety.

Zierra28, you are exactly right. E is not a good answer because it indicates that the moral codes of different countries are pre-existing, rather than that they arise from certain universal moral attitudes. E was a good contender, but the case of ending up with two contenders, you may need to refine and narrow your understanding of the analogy until you can eliminate all but one.

[lounalola]

I am a bit confused, how exactly does E indicate that the moral codes of different countries are pre-existing?

[Jeff Wren]

Hi lounalola,

Answer E states that "moral attitudes can be adapted to suit the moral codes of different countries." The words "adapted to suit" mean "adapted in response to." This implies that the moral codes exist prior to the attitudes or at least independent from the attitudes, and the attitudes change based on the moral codes. This is basically the opposite of what the stimulus is claiming, which is that the moral attitudes form the basis for the moral codes. In other words, the codes are adapted from/developed from the attitudes, not the other way around.

Remember that the moral attitudes, at least the ones discussed in the stimulus, are universal and presumably don't change. They are equivalent to the "certain universal tastes like sweetness and saltiness" in the analogy.