LSAT Explanation PT 19, S2, Q23: A museum director, in order to

LSAT Question Stem

The reasoning in the argument is vulnerable to the criticism that the argument does which one of the following? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Flaw question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is E. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

The question type for this problem is a Flaw question, which means we need to identify the flaw in the reasoning of the argument presented in the passage.

Let's first analyze the argument in the passage. The museum director sold some paintings he considered inferior to finance new acquisitions. Critics condemned the sale, arguing that the museum lost first-rate pieces and violated its duty as a trustee of art for future generations. The argument concludes that the high resale prices of the paintings demonstrate the correctness of the critics' evaluation.

In this argument, the premise is that the paintings were resold at high prices, and the conclusion is that the critics were correct in their evaluation of the paintings as first-rate pieces. The argument assumes that the high resale prices are due to the paintings being first-rate.

Now, let's create an "Evaluate" question for this argument: "Is the high resale price of the paintings solely due to their being first-rate pieces?"

We will now go through each answer choice and explain why it is right or wrong.

a) The argument does not conclude that the critics' opinion is correct because it is held by more people. It concludes that the critics' opinion is correct because of the high resale prices of the paintings. This answer choice is incorrect.

b) The argument does not reject the judgment of experts. It uses the high resale prices, not expert judgment, to support the conclusion that the critics were correct. This answer choice is incorrect.

c) The argument does not reject a proven means of accomplishing an objective without offering an alternative. It is focused on the correctness of the critics' evaluation, not on the means of accomplishing the museum's objectives. This answer choice is incorrect.

d) The argument does not base its conclusion on speculative claims about a future state of affairs. It bases its conclusion on the present fact of the high resale prices of the paintings. This answer choice is incorrect.

e) This answer choice is correct. The argument bases its conclusion on the high resale prices, which could have resulted from other causes, such as the stagnant art market, rather than the paintings being first-rate pieces. The argument assumes that the high prices are solely due to the paintings being first-rate, but there could be other factors at play.

In conclusion, the correct answer choice is (e), as it identifies the flaw in the argument's reasoning, which is basing its conclusion on facts that could have resulted from causes other than those presupposed by the argument.