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- Fri Jan 21, 2011 12:00 am
#23139
Complete Question Explanation
Flaw in the reasoning. The correct answer choice is (E)
The argument describes the notion that selfish individualism characterized the 80s and threatened the cohesion of society. The argument then compares the 80s with the rest of human history, concluding that selfishness was prevalent through history as well. It does so by asserting that even the simplest unselfish acts were actually motivated by selfish concern for the human species. The argument seems to use the following questionable tactic: it tries to establish the historical prevalence of individual selfishness by pointing out the existence of selfish concern for the entire human species. In essence, the argument is confusing apples with oranges.
Answer choice (A) This is a tempting answer choice, given that the argument hints at trying to refute the position described in the first sentence. However, on closer inspection, the argument does not go quite as far. The explicit conclusion of the argument is that individual selfishness was historically prevalent.
Answer choice (B) No statistical evidence is necessary in this argument. Statistical evidence is not required for every argument, and indeed, for many of the arguments encountered in the LSAT. The absence or presence of statistical evidence is not a good indicator of which arguments are valid and which are not.
Answer choice (C) It does no such thing. In fact, it is trying to establish that selfishness is not unique to the present age—that it was historically prevalent.
Answer choice (D) The behavior of other species is completely irrelevant to this argument in showing that selfishness has been prevalent throughout human history.
Answer choice (E): This is the correct answer choice. Indeed, the argument first uses the term selfish to mean an individual's concern for himself. Then, the meaning shifts to the concern for the entire human species—an instance of equivocation.
Flaw in the reasoning. The correct answer choice is (E)
The argument describes the notion that selfish individualism characterized the 80s and threatened the cohesion of society. The argument then compares the 80s with the rest of human history, concluding that selfishness was prevalent through history as well. It does so by asserting that even the simplest unselfish acts were actually motivated by selfish concern for the human species. The argument seems to use the following questionable tactic: it tries to establish the historical prevalence of individual selfishness by pointing out the existence of selfish concern for the entire human species. In essence, the argument is confusing apples with oranges.
Answer choice (A) This is a tempting answer choice, given that the argument hints at trying to refute the position described in the first sentence. However, on closer inspection, the argument does not go quite as far. The explicit conclusion of the argument is that individual selfishness was historically prevalent.
Answer choice (B) No statistical evidence is necessary in this argument. Statistical evidence is not required for every argument, and indeed, for many of the arguments encountered in the LSAT. The absence or presence of statistical evidence is not a good indicator of which arguments are valid and which are not.
Answer choice (C) It does no such thing. In fact, it is trying to establish that selfishness is not unique to the present age—that it was historically prevalent.
Answer choice (D) The behavior of other species is completely irrelevant to this argument in showing that selfishness has been prevalent throughout human history.
Answer choice (E): This is the correct answer choice. Indeed, the argument first uses the term selfish to mean an individual's concern for himself. Then, the meaning shifts to the concern for the entire human species—an instance of equivocation.
