#19 - Company spokesperson: Although our products are

[Administrator]

Complete Question Explanation

The correct answer choice is (A).

Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice.

Answer choice (B):

Answer choice (C):

Answer choice (D):

Answer choice (E):

This explanation is still in progress. Please post any questions below!

[lawschoolgirl11]

Hello, I have a quick question regarding one particular flawed method of reasoning question from the newly released February 2024 LR Section by LSAC. The correct answer (A) notes that the argument "contains a premise that presupposes the truth of its conclusion" (that one product is the best in its industry). I originally skipped over this answer choice, as it did not immediately fit my prevailing conception of how circular methods of reasoning operate (in the typical format of X is true, because X is true), and ended up choosing (C). In this respect, I believe the argument structure seems a bit atypical. I am hoping that someone could provide me with some guidance - I can see why the other answer choices are wrong, but I would like to really underpin the circular reasoning flaw in the argument.

"19. Company spokesperson: Although our products are
the most expensive in our industry, they are
also the best available..."

The reasoning in the company spokesperson’s argument
is flawed in that the argument

(A) contains a premise that presupposes the truth of
the conclusion
(B) fails to make a needed distinction between the
best product currently available and the best
product that could be produced
(C) treats a cause of a product being the most
expensive as an effect of its being the most
expensive
...

[Adam Tyson]

The argument in this question breaks down to the author saying that their product is the best, because if the others were better, they would be more expensive. They are, in essence, saying that being the most expensive proves it's the best, because the best thing has to be the most expensive. That should make the circular logic pretty clear! Where's the evidence about the actual characteristics that make it better than the competition? There isn't any!

Looked at this way, you should see that it does fit the typical model you described. No additional evidence was offered, and that's a hallmark of circular reasoning. Circular reasoning can also be viewed as "this has to be true, because it cannot be false."

[lawschoolgirl11]

Thank you so much for your explanation Adam! For some reason, I am still slightly confused. I mapped out the argument like this:

p1: our products are the most expensive
(all other products less expensive)

p2: other-products-better → cost-more
/cost-more

—
no product better than ours (our products are the best)

For some reason, I am still having some difficulty pinning down on how this exhibits circular reasoning, when mapped out in this manner. I know that there is no independent proof given for why we should believe that other products being better signifies that they necessarily cost more, but isn't the second premise just stating a rule for better implies more expensive from which we could conclude that the spokesman's products are better? I hope I am making some sense.

Thanks again, and happy new year!

[Adam Tyson]

The argument still just breaks down to "the most expensive is the best, because the most expensive is the best." There's no additional evidence provided, and that's what makes it circular. To make the argument be something other than circular, the author would have to tell us something about why being more expensive indicates a better product.