LSAT Explanation PT 23, S2, Q14: Kim: In northern Europe during the

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following, if true, provides the strongest defense of Kim's explanation against Lee's criticism? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Strengthen question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is A. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

Let's first analyze the argument in the passage. Kim claims that a change in attitude occurred in northern Europe during the 18th century, which can be seen in the adoption of less solemn death rites and a more optimistic view of the human condition. The reason behind this change, according to Kim, is the dramatic increase in life expectancy at that time. Lee challenges Kim's explanation by arguing that it's unlikely that people were aware of the increase in life expectancy, hence it couldn't have caused the change in attitude. The structure of the argument is as follows:

Premise: Change in attitude occurred in northern Europe during the 18th century.

Premise: This change can be explained by the dramatic increase in life expectancy.

Conclusion: The increase in life expectancy caused the change in attitude.

An "Evaluate" question for this argument could be, "Were people in northern Europe during the 18th century aware of the increase in life expectancy?"

Now, let's discuss each answer choice in detail.

The question type is Strengthen, and it asks us to find the answer choice that provides the strongest defense of Kim's explanation against Lee's criticism.

a) An increase in life expectancy in a population often gives rise to economic changes that, in turn, directly influence people's attitudes.

This answer choice provides a strong defense for Kim's explanation. It suggests that even if people were not directly aware of the increase in life expectancy, the resulting economic changes could still influence their attitudes. This weakens Lee's criticism and strengthens Kim's argument. Therefore, this is the correct answer choice.

b) Present-day psychologists have noted that people's attitudes toward life can change in response to information about their life expectancy.

This answer choice doesn't address Lee's criticism that people in the 18th century were not aware of the increase in life expectancy. It doesn't strengthen Kim's explanation and can be eliminated.

c) Philosophers in northern Europe during the eighteenth century made many conjectures that did not affect the ideas of the population at large.

This answer choice doesn't address Lee's criticism or provide any defense for Kim's explanation. It doesn't strengthen the argument and can be eliminated.

d) The concept of life expectancy is based on statistical theories that had not been developed in the eighteenth century.

This answer choice actually strengthens Lee's criticism, as it suggests that people in the 18th century couldn't have been aware of the increase in life expectancy due to the lack of statistical theories. It doesn't defend Kim's explanation and can be eliminated.

e) Before the eighteenth century, the attitudes of northern Europeans were more likely to be determined by religious teaching than by demographic phenomena.

This answer choice doesn't address Lee's criticism or provide any defense for Kim's explanation. It talks about what happened before the 18th century, which doesn't affect the argument. It can be eliminated.

In conclusion, answer choice (a) provides the strongest defense for Kim's explanation against Lee's criticism, strengthening the argument that the increase in life expectancy caused the change in attitude in northern Europe during the 18th century.