LSAT Explanation PT 22, S2, Q12: Music critic: Some people argue that,

LSAT Question Stem

The music critic's reasoning is vulnerable to criticism on the ground that it 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Flaw question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is B. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

The question type for this problem is Flaw, and we are asked to identify the flaw in the music critic's reasoning.

Let's first analyze the argument in the passage. The music critic's argument can be summarized as follows:

Premise: Unlike certain works of Handel, which set to music familiar religious texts, the organ symphonies of Louis Vierne are not religious music.

Conclusion: However, sitting in Notre Dame cathedral in Paris and hearing his organ symphonies demonstrates that Vierne's works are divinely inspired and should be considered religious music.

The structure of the argument is that the music critic is trying to argue that Vierne's works are religious music, even though they don't use religious texts, because they evoke a sense of divine inspiration when listened to in a specific setting.

An "Evaluate" question for this argument could be "Does the experience of divine inspiration when listening to Vierne's organ symphonies in a specific setting make them religious music?"

Now let's go through the answer choices:

a) The argument does not take for granted that all religious music is inspiring. Rather, it claims that Vierne's music is religious because it seems to be divinely inspired. This answer choice is incorrect.

b) This answer choice is correct. The music critic uses the term "religious" in two different ways: first, in reference to source materials (religious texts), and second, in reference to the listener's emotional response (divine inspiration). This shifting definition of "religious" is the flaw in the argument.

c) The possibility that some organ music is not divinely inspired is not relevant to the author's argument. The argument is focused on Vierne's works and whether they should be considered religious music. This answer choice is incorrect.

d) The term "symphonies" does not change meaning in the argument; it means "musical compositions" both times it is used. This answer choice is incorrect.

e) We cannot conclude that the author believes all organ symphonies are religious music. The argument only claims that Vierne's works are religious. This answer choice is incorrect.

In conclusion, the correct answer choice is (b), as the music critic's reasoning is vulnerable to criticism because it confuses two different meanings of the term "religious."